June/July 2022 Four County Catholic
The Catholic School Tradition
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As another school year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting with deep concern and hope. Concern, because there is an assault on education around the world. Hope, because I have witnessed the joyful exhilaration of our Catholic school students whose resiliency over the last two years has been a source of inspiration. Their what-ever-it-takes attitude, encouraged by supportive parents and teachers, made in-classroom learning possible.
In addition to a great academic education, our students are taught to care, to put importance on community, and to set aside differences. Our Catholic schools have a long-standing tradition of diversity and inclusion – welcoming children of all faiths and economic circumstances, including the poor and the immigrant.
Providing students with the skill and understanding that they need to increase their social consciousness and act in ways that foster respect, empathy, and fairness is part of a well-rounded Christian education. Doing so inside of a nurturing community has always been the hallmark of the Catholic school model.
The Catholic Church’s interest in education stems from the Church’s role as mother and teacher, fulfilling the mandate received from God, the “divine founder of proclaiming the mystery of salvation to all men and of restoring all things in Christ . . .” (Gravissimum educationis- the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on Christian education.)
The last two years have shown us that we must remain vigilant. Keeping our schools open for in-classroom learning was an important exercise of the freedom of thought and conscience. Yet it mustn’t stop there.
Today, there are emotionally heated discussions and protests in publicly funded schools surrounding whether the topics of gender and critical race theory should be taught to children in a classroom environment.
There are those who want to take away a parent’s rights and responsibilities as the primary educator of their children. School boards and lawmakers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and, yes, Connecticut have proposed and even passed legislation regarding gender curriculum, much of which is often distorting and even contradicting sound Catholic teaching. While they may have the best of motives, their attempt to protect and shield our children from the realities of social injustices that happen in our world, may do more to confuse children than to help them.
Parents have a responsibility to choose how and where their child is educated. The critical race theory and gender agendas running rampant in so many school systems are a cause for concern. It is so important for parents to pay attention –– to consider the safer, more truthful, and reasonable environment of a Diocesan school.
Catholic education extends an honest and morally sound framework regarding issues of race, human dignity, and social justice. In the last few months, there have been articles in the Four County Catholic giving witness to students’ care, compassion, and love for people on the other side of the world who are suffering the unthinkable.
Please know that our teachers and principals are available to assist you in confidently choosing an education for your child that retains the core influence of the Gospel.
I would also like to congratulate the eighth grade, high school, and college graduates of the Class of 2022. Their perseverance has carried them through a challenging time. I pray, as I am sure all of you do, for their success in all future endeavors.
Our Catholic schools provide a safe environment that encourages students to embrace learning, embrace problem solving, and embrace the Gospel message.
My prayer for all of you is that you hold hope in your heart and share that hope with our young people. May you have a safe, restful, and enlightening summer.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Michael R. Cote
Bishop of Norwich