Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2—The Georgia Bulletin, January 27,1977
/ — FOCAL POINT — \
The Dilemma Of Catholic Schools
——
BY FATHER
RICHARD A. KIERAN
Secretary for Education
Archdiocese of Atlanta
There has been some
hopeful news for Catholic
schools in the last year. It
came in the form of a study
published by the National
Opinion Research Center:
“Catholic Schools in a
Declining Church”. While I
cannot agree with some of
the authors’ interpretations
of their data, especially
Father Andrew Greeley’s
“Afterword,” the data itself
is reassuring regarding the
effectiveness of Catholic
schools and the potential
support for them.
Based on a comparison of
two surveys of American
Catholics conducted by the
same team, in 1963 and in
1974, the NORC study
states:
“If the Church wants to
husband its hopeful people, it
must recognize the magnified
importance of the parochial
school system. In terms of
human resources, Catholic
schools are a tremendous
asset for the changing
Church. They tend to
produce people who are
change-oriented and flexible,
but secure in both their world
view and their loyalty to past
traditions and values.
Parochial schools are also
producing people who are
more tolerant of others and
better able to cope with our
increasingly diverse society.”
The NORC study provides
factual evidance to validate
the position taken by the
U.S. Catholic Bishops in 1972
in their pastoral letter on
Catholic Education, “To
Teach As Jesus Did”: “For
our part, as bishops, we
reaffirm our conviction that
Catholic schools which realize
the threefold purpose of
Christian education-to teach
doctrine, to build
community, and to serve ; -are
the most effective means
available to the Church for
the education of children and
young people, who thus may
grow into manhood according
to the mature measure of
Christ.”
The unique contribution
of the Catholic school is the
integration of religious truth
and values with life. Only in
such a school environment
can Catholic young people
experience learning and living
fully integrated in the light of
faith, within the Catholic
tradition. The NORC study
assures us that the Catholic
school is still our most
effective instrument for the
Christian formation of our
youth.
I am more than satisfied
that the 13 elementary
schools and the two high
schools in the archdiocese
continue to offer this unique
Fr. Richard A. Kieran
opportunity for the
development of the whole
young person according to
the Gospel. We are placing
our primary emphasis on
developing the faith
commitment of individuals
and the community within
our schools.
The comparison of the
two surveys in the NORC
study also indicates that the
majority of Catholic people
esteem and prefer Catholic
schools to other forms of
education and that they say
they are willing to increase
their financial support for
Catholic schools. This being
the case, we might well
wonder why we struggle to
maintain our present schools
and have no plans to expand
the system. I believe several
factors contribute to this
situation:
1 - The concentration of
Catholics has tended to move
away from the location of
our existing schools to new
developing parishes whose
leadership is not ready to
undertake the establishment
of a school.
2 - Our increased emphasis
on quality religious education
for those not enrolled in
Catholic schools has
frequently been interpreted
as questioning the continued
validity of the Catholic
school. Some pastors and
educators go so far as to
express or imply an
anti-Catholic school bias.
Thus, our families are
discouraged from even
considering Catholic schools.
3 - The accelerated
increase in the cost of
operating our schools over
the last few years, which has
been passed on to school
families in the form of
tuition. This increase is
beginning to level off a little.
However, no significant relief
can be foreseen in the near
future. Attempts to achieve
federal aid are at a standstill
until the composition of the
Supreme Court changes.
4 - The lack of an effective
national and diocesan
organization of Catholic
school parents to give
expression to the widespread
desire for Catholic schooling.
Attempts are being made to
organize a national group. We
would welcome the support
of Home and School
Associations in the
Archdiocese in forming a
local chapter.
In spite of these negative
factors, the Archdiocese of
Atlanta is firmly committed
to continue the Catholic
school effort. We want to
maintain our present schools
and expand the system
whenever our resources
permit and we have
community support for new
schools. A measure of our
commitment to maintain the
Catholic schools is the new
policy in effect this year on
o u t- o f - p ari sh tuition,
whereby all Catholic families
are charged the same rate of
tuition in a school and all
parishes served by the school
share in subsidizing it. This
policy is intended to
encourage more Catholic
families to choose Catholic
schools. It also gives practical
expression to our belief that
THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
BENEFITS THE ENTIRE
CHURCH, EVEN IF ALL
CATHOLIC YOUNGSTERS
CANNOT BE ENROLLED.
Catholic schools have been
through some difficult years,
often struggling for survival.
It is good to know that they
have retained their vitality
and are highly valued by
many American Catholics.
We are entering a new era for
Catholic schools when their
importance to the Church
will be greater than ever. The
NORC study states:
“The schools are more
critical to the Church now
than they were a decade ago
for two reasons: they prevent
losses where losses are most
likely to be the worst, among
men and among the young;
and they build for the future
by influencing men--who are
more effective religious
socializers, and the
young-who have more years
ahead of them.”
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HEADQUARTERS FORT
MCPHERSON, Ft. McPherson, Ga. --
Captain Francine B. Shannon was
sworn in as a U.S. Army Reserve officer
by her father, Colonel Leslie F. Zsuffa,
(retired, U.S. Army), in a recent
induction ceremony at Ft. McPherson.
Capt. Shannon has been assigned
temporarily to Ft. Sam Houston, Tx.,
where she will attend the Academy of
Health Services.
A graduate of St. Pius X High
School, Atlanta, Ga., Capt. Shannon
holds a bachelors degree in social work
ASKS SERIOUS REFLECTION
from San Francisco State University
and the University of Georgia, and a
masters degree in social work from
Atlanta University. Before entering the
U.S. Army Reserve, Capt. Shannon was
employed as a social work consultant at
the Community Cardiovascular Council
in Savannah. She is a member of the
National Association of Social Workers
and the Academy of Certified Social
Workers.
She and her son, Daniel Shawn,
currently reside at her parents’ home at
25 Demorest Avenue, N.E., Atlanta.
Archbishop Bernardin Comments
Following is the text of the
statement by Archbishop Joseph
L. Bernardin, President of the
U.S. Bishops' Conference, on the
declaration on the ordination of
women to the priesthood.
“This Declaration’s clear
and authoritative
reaffirmation that the Church
‘does not consider herself
authorized to admit women
to priestly ordination’ invites
all of us to serious reflection
upon some central elements
of our belief and the
obligations which arise from
them.
“Some, perhaps many, will
find its conclusion
disappointing. I ask them to
read, study, and pray over
this document in order to
discern how much more,
beyond a simple prohibition,
it is really saying to us all. I
also urge those with pastoral
responsibility in the Church
to undertake the work of
reconciliation with persons
who may at first experience
this teaching as alienating.
The obligation rests in
particular upon those of us
who are bishops.
‘‘The Declaration’s
negative conclusion is not
founded, explicitly or
implicitly, on lingering
notions of male superiority.
Whatever mistaken opinions
theologians or teachers of
earlier times held, the Church
today fully recognizes the
equality of women and men,
repudiates unjust
discrimination based on sex,
and encourages efforts to
bring women increasingly
into roles of leadership in the
Church. Many women desire
this, and progress has been
made. The fact that they are
not priests should not be
treated as an obstacle to
achieving their goals. The
need to identify and open up
new ministerial and
decision-making roles for
women in the Church
becomes more urgent, not
less, in light of this
Declaration.
‘‘The ecumenical
implications of the issue must
be taken seriously. There is
now a substantial diversity of
belief and practice among
Christians on this subject.
This fact introduces a new,
complex difficulty into
ecumenical relationships at a
time when Christians of
different traditions have been
growing closer in many ways.
Nevertheless Catholics remain
committed to ecumenical
dialogue and collaboration
under the guidance of the
Spirit.
“In concluding that
fidelity to Christ’s will does
not permit it to ordain
women as priests, the Church
is calling us to sensitive,
prayerful reflection on the
meaning of such realities as
priesthood, ministry,
sacrament, and the Church
itself. This will help us see
that the Church’s inability to
ordain women as priests has
nothing to do with sexual
discrimination. Such
Spirit-led reflection will also
shed light on the many
distinct but complementary
ministries within the Church,
equal in dignity and united in
the single, shared ministry' of
loving service to which all of
God’s people are called. That
at least is my hope and my
prayer.”
Mondale Visits Pope
ROME (NC) -- Vice President Walter Mondale visited Pope
Paul VI, Jan. 27, just a week after his inauguration.
The new vice president was in Rome for two days as part of a
swing through European capitals to meet with heads of state.
Archbishop Bernardin
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Immaculate Heart of Mary School
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636-4488
For New Families
Jan. 31, 1977
/ HA
7:30 p.m. in School Cafeteria
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Wednesday, February 2, 1977 2:00 - 4:00
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Wednesday, February 9, 1977 2:00 - 4:00
Bus transportation may be available for ’77-’78.
WATCHES
Capri Theatre Bldg.
In Christ The King Parish
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688-
Creating Community
BY DR. ELLEN L. BURNS
On Saturday, January 22, hundreds of persons participated
in Respect Life Day at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. It was
heartening to see such active support for pro-life issues on the
fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to allow
abortion-on-demand in the United States.
I was particularly encouraged by the joyous enthusiasm of
the participants. The keynoter, Mrs. Rosemary Meyer, a young
attorney from Arizona, sparked a sense of responsibility and
courage into her audience as she urged Atlanta Catholics to use
positive and constructive approaches to the solution of social
problems.
“Life is beautiful and joyful,” she said, “and we have
something to share” as we work for clean air, decent housing,
better schools, and a redistribution of the world’s resources.
Mrs. Meyer is the president of the National Committee for a
Human Life Amendment and is committed to pro-life causes
across the board. She urged Catholics to use their diverse talents
for the pro-life movement. “There will be different degrees of
commitment,” she commented.
Some will be marchers and picketers; others will be writers or
speakers; and there will be those who support the movement
with telephoning and writing letters to Congressmen and to
Congresswomen. “We need to work to be believable,” Mrs.
Meyer said; “the ‘gooey’ type of Christianity has to give way to
the concerted efforts of lawyers, theologians, doctors, biology
experts, and educators to counter killing and violence in our
society.”
Some persons believe political entanglement is not necessary.
Mrs. Meyer countered this attitude with her encouragement of
establishing a strong power base by aligning ourselves with other
ecumenical and civic groups and individuals which support the
pro-life movement in this country, particularly in the local area.
Several workshops on Legislation, Abortion, Euthanasia, and
Guidance for Pregnant Women were held throughout the day.
Special films were available for viewing. In the afternoon a
special section was devoted to the organization of parish pro-life
committees. Some particular strategy tools were brought to
light by Bill Nursey. These included education for life concerns,
countering propaganda of the opposition, persuasion for a
constitutional amendment, checking the position of candidates
for public office on pro-life stances, and maintaining alliance
with religious leaders of all persuasions.
The theme of the day which emerged from the sessions and
which was carried out in the closing liturgy was “Choose Life.”
And when we urge others to choose life, we concluded, we have
to offer them alternatives. Will we be willing to take into our
homes pregnant girls in the last months of their pregnancy? Will
we be willing to offer them not only financial assistance but
moral support and friendliness as they adjust to new
circumstances? Will we be willing to help them find
employment to support their new babies? Will we actively
oppose legislation against abortion and support bills for
maternal and infant care?
FORMER ATLANTAN
Beatrice Dismer Heads Y
The president and the board of directors of the
Brunswick-Glynn County YWCA today announced the
appointment of Beatrice Burke Dismer as executive director of
the Brunswick Y.
Mrs. Dismer is a first place honor graduate of Sacred Heart
School, Atlanta, and a cum laude graduate of Fontbonne
College, St. Louis, Missouri. She did further graduate study at
Emory University and Georgia State.
A native Atlantan, Mrs. Dismer is a former organist at St.
Thomas More Church in Decatur and at the Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception in Atlanta. She has been active in
teaching, primarily in music, and is a former assistant in public
relations at Emory University. She was president of the St.
Gerard Guild at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and worked
with exceptional children in music at the Elaine Clark Center
there.
Mrs. Dismer, her husband, and their five children were
communicants of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Atlanta
from the time the church was built. The children all attended
Immaculate Heart of Mary School, and the three eldest were
graduated from St. Pius X High School. The Dismers moved to
St. Simons Island in 1975.
Mrs. Dismer is an organist at St. William’s Church on St.
Simons Island and is vice president of the Parish Council of
Catholic Women there. For two summers she has been
accompanist for the Island Players’ Summer Children’s
Workshop. Her husband, William E. Dismer, a graduate of
Benedictine Military Academy in Savannah and of the Emory
University School of Law, is a practicing attorney in St. Simon’s
and a member of the Parish Council of St. William’s Church, St.
Simons Island.
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