The following comes from a Feb. 3 release from the archdiocese of San Francisco.
To see Archbishop Cordileone’s statement on ‘why Catholic schools fail’ in the Feb.1 Cal Catholic, click here.
The archdiocese of San Francisco is proposing three new clauses to the contracts for the teachers in the archdiocesan high schools. The purpose is to further clarify that Catholic schools –as the first clause states– “exist to affirm and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as held and taught by his Catholic Church.”
The archdiocese is adding detailed statements of Catholic teaching on sexual morality and religious practice — taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church — into the faculty and staff handbooks of the four archdiocesan high schools, Archbishop Riordan, Marin Catholic and Junipero Serra High Schools, and Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory. The handbook additions will take effect in the 2015-16 school year and are not part of the contract. About 315 teachers at the four schools belong to the teacher’s union which is currently negotiating the contract to take effect Aug.1
Nearly 500 people in total are employed at the four high schools.
The handbook and contract changes do not contain anything essentially new. Rather, they are intended to clarify existing expectations that Catholic teachers in their professional and public lives uphold Catholic teaching, archdiocesan Catholic schools Superintendent Maureen Huntington said.
“Because we live in a very secular society, the truth as revealed by God gets overshadowed by popular ideology,” Huntington said. “In order to remain faithful to God’s revelations and the church’s teachings, additions and clarifying statements have been developed for our teachers and staff members articulating specific fundamental truths, which are not understood or accepted within our secular society.”
The intent is not to drive any teacher out of a job, Huntington and San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said. “At the outset, I wish to state clearly and emphatically that the intention underlying this document is not to target for dismissal from our schools any teachers, singly or collectively, nor does it introduce anything essentially new into the contract or the faculty handbook,” Archbishop Cordileone wrote in a February letter to the teachers.
Archbishop Cordileone was to address the high school teachers of the archdiocese Feb. 6 on the topic of “Catholic education during the time of Pope Francis.” Faculty from the 14 Catholic high schools in the archdiocese, including the 10 owned by religious communities as well as teachers at the four archdiocesan high schools, were expected to attend Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral and a subsequent talk.
The union negotiating team was scheduled to have presented the proposed contract to the full membership by this week, said Lisa Dole, president of the teacher’s union and a teacher at Marin Catholic High School. The existing contract expires July 31.
To read Valerie Schmaltz story on the subject in Catholic San Francisco, click here.
May God bless Abp Cordileone, and his Catholic Schools.
If you want to teach in any religious school, you must respect that religion,
and live accordingly to set the appropriate example for the students.
Those schools who advertise themselves as “Catholic” and allow violations of the Faith by any Staff are committing fraud against all parents who pay tuition with expectations that a School is Catholic.
Yes God bless Abp Cordileone. Our prayers are with him.
This seeems pretty basic stuff, but the Zombie-Liberals will soon spring, full flower, from the ground, yelling, screaming, demanding their various “rights” and all that, in opposition to what the good Archbishop is trying to do with Catholic education. If anything, the San Francisco approach is minimal, and more, much more, should be done.
Let’s be clear here: why should a Catholic High School employ someone who is openly homosexual and who is “married” or living with his same-sex partner? Why? Ditto with a hetersexual living with an opposite sex person without the benefit of marriage. Why? It is unfortunate that the Archbishop did not seem to go down this path. Of course, there would be legal objection, but let it come, as it will anyway, as homosexual activists will see to it.
That is important to consider, Excellency. What if a homosexual man is a teacher at one of your HS. And, he wants to bring his “partner” to a school function? Or he comes to something socially, say a football game, and want to bring his sweetie? This is scandal and should not be permitted.
Many hope that half-way steps such as those initiated by Abp. Cordileone, will be but a first step, important but only an initial step. The Church needs to stand firm in its Faith, and not let society temporize the Church’s beliefs. Of course, this is precisely the scheme anticipated by HomoFascits, who will be front and center on any attemtp to marginalize their “rights”.
Since teachers don’t have to sign anything, this is a non-starter. Is the archbishop afraid to do anything about this (or is this just smoke and mirrors)? For that matter, Pelosi is still ranting away, why hasn’t he imposed Canon 915, too?
Dear Archbiship, please use MARIN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL as a most wonderful example of the ‘real deal’ in Catholic education!!!
You are being a true shepherd which we so desperately need in this archdiocese!
Know that many in your flock are behind you 100% and are praying for you.
I agree Elizabeth. He is a gentle soul. Amen to your comments!
This is a great step forward.
But who will look out for the vulnerable young; the elementary school children against “popular ideologies”? Unlike high school age teens, the Kindergarten, First, Second, etc can not even begin to contend intellectually (much less with their wills) with the many threats to salvation that they face daily due to the secularization of the once-Catholic schools. As children they cannot even see these. And moreover the souls in the elementary schools represent the great majority of students – perhaps 2/3 compared with the high schools. When will Catholicity be demanded of these?
When will Catholic education begin again?
– The “popular ideology” of Common Core is readily accepted/embedded
– Prayer and the sacramental life are optional, if not negligible, if not completely absent
– Pastors have little or no role in the schools
– The popular culture and its many anti-themes dominates and dictates the ethic of the schools
When?
Parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children – through teaching and example – per the CCC.
But we have to play catch up since through lousy religious education we have lost the parents – they do not fully know their Faith.
This is why we need all literate persons to read Sacred Scripture and the CCC at home – to educate.
Thanks for the link to the story.
Interesting paragraph here:
The handbook additions clearly state that the institution believes in the listed items, and does not require each individual staff member or teacher to assent to each stated item of Catholic doctrine. That is because the archdiocese recognizes that some Catholic teachers and other non-Catholic teachers may not agree with all that the Catholic Church teaches, Archbishop Cordileone said. The aim of the handbook additions is to specify for all what the church teaches and require that high school staff and teachers not contradict Catholic teachings in a school environment or in public actions.
” The aim of the handbook additions is to specify for all what the church teaches and require that high school staff and teachers not contradict Catholic teachings in a school environment or in public actions. ” – This is key both in words and example.
If employees don’t like it, quit and get a (probably better paying) job at the local secular school. Good riddence!
Our bought and paid for ‘free press’ has already gone ballistic blasting bile from Gaystapo Reactionaries who may not ‘infest’ – but certainly soil wherever possible – some of our Catholic Schools.
Such Mau Mau Campaigns will target Church leaders & laity & particularly the Students. The sense of entitlement of Tenured Radicals clinging like toxic barnacles to Church perks & paychecks, includes getting paid to Trash the Church ‘with authority’ in the Classroom.
I strongly maintain that Catholic Teaching should be a MINISTRY, and an entirely different method of supporting it found that does not cross over in to ’employment law’.
Give no wedge for an Anti-Catholic Mob like the SF Stuporvisors & Demicrat legislature to drive between solid Catholic learning models that include both a Rational, Reasonable, Logical, Scientifically Factually Supported curriculum – and the correspondingly Wise Moral Teachings of the Church.
Neither the Church nor God are ‘Anti-Scientific’, particularly given the Church position that God Created Nature & the Science we can employ to better understand creation.
Expect massive homosex hissy fits of tantrum theater to feed the lamesteam media circus, featuring ‘teachers’ who want to destroy the Church By Any Means Necessary… In a most ‘tolerant’ manner of course.
I Foresee interesting times ahead – and herewith Volunteer my aid in not so much a Fundamental Transformation – as a Restoration, of what was good and can be better.
Milk & Cookies would be nice too – so long as it doesn’t include Pederast Icon Harvey.
It makes me wonder why non Catholic teachers want to teach in a Catholic School. There must have been enough Catholics to fill teaching positions and staff areas also. Maybe it was because the people hiring wanted to be ecumenical. Maybe they felt forced by non discriminating hiring laws to open the doors to anyone who seemed qualified. Then again most of the students are not practicing Catholics. The majority of practicing Catholics have been shut out because of the cost and the anti Catholic sentiment of the student body.
Really? “The majority of practicing Catholics have been shut out because of the cost and the anti Catholic sentiment of the student body.” Where do you come up with such nonsense? It is probably true that the majority of Catholics can’t afford Catholic schools. But it is also true that the majority of non-Catholics can’t afford those same schools. So if you are trying to make some kind of “oh im catholic and I’m so victimized” argument….get a new saw.
The schools were not created to teach non Catholics. They were created to uphold and reinforce Catholic values and faith in a school setting. So, it does matter that Catholics cannot afford the schools. I get that opinion from experience. Boy, for having such a strong opinion you think you could at least print your name. Why are you hiding?
There is tuition assistance. If you want your kids in Catholic Schools and the money is a problem, try to get help.
lisag, anyone who teaches in any religious school where they do not believe the tenants of that particular faith – are HYPOCRITS, with ulterior motives of some kind.
They are phonies who should not be anywhere near children.
Many of the people hiring in Catholic schools were (are) heretics. We must clean house in all Diocese forms of employment.
.
Remember the marxist Saul Alinsky method –
” True revolutionaries do not flaunt their radicalism, Alinsky taught.
They cut their hair, put on suits and infiltrate the system from within.
Alinsky viewed revolution as a slow, patient process.
The trick was to penetrate existing institutions such as CHURCHES,
UNIONS and POLITICAL PARTIES……”.
https://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/communism/alinsky.htm
Okay, guys, now that Archbishop Cordileone has come out in a clear and firm manner about what we expect of our teachers and administrators in the Catholic schools of San Francisco, I for one am still waiting to see what happens with the principal of Archbishop Riordan High School, right in the middle of the city!
We have seen the news reports on ch. 7 about the principal showing sexy videos to his teachers, men who complained and yet were not listened to; including a video of a Riordan underage student sexually touching girls after lifting up their skirts. This is against the law, to show such videos of underage students!!!
Why is nothing being done about this principal?!?