Eau Claire Catholic academy gets neutral position from Bp. Callahan
Eau Claire's newest Catholic school, John Paul II Academy, plans to open this fall, though it won't be part of the local Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse.
The school grew from a push by area home-schoolers to set up their own Catholic school in the Chippewa Valley. The academy will cover grades six through 12 and charge $5,000 annual tuition. The school will hold classes inside Chapel Heights United Methodist Church, 300 E. Hamilton Ave.
School officials wanted the La Crosse diocese to offer its official recognition of the school, but John Ruplinger, the academy's headmaster, said the bishop, William Callahan, has taken a neutral position - neither approving nor disapproving the academy.
"He's not very keen on our enterprise," Ruplinger said. "He doesn't condemn this."
The academy's website says the school will have a strong Catholic identity - full-time teachers must pledge obedience to the Roman Catholic Church, and students must be willing to participate in religious coursework and church attendance.
"I hope they come around and approve us," Ruplinger said of the diocese, noting he believes the fact his school is new - and will have a somewhat unconventional curriculum - may be reasons the diocese has been hesitant to embrace it.
But Stan Gould, the diocese's acting communications director, said the diocese's stance isn't one of disapproval.
"It's not ours to approve or disapprove," Gould said of the school. "A private group created it."
The diocese's schools director, Diana Roberts, declined comment, telling the Leader-Telegram in an email she doesn't know anything about the academy[hmmm].
The academy's status will mean it won't receive funding from the diocese, Gould said. The diocese also won't review its curriculum to make sure it is in line with Catholic teaching, he added. And the school won't be able to offer Catholic services such as Mass.
"They could be very Catholic, but we don't know. It's not one of our entities," Gould said.
Ruplinger said students will travel to Catholic churches for Mass several times a week.
The rest at Leader Telegram. Good article!
3 comments:
R. Weakland ordered a parent-founded Catholic school in Milwaukee to stop using the term "Catholic" as a descriptor.
Several years into his reign, Abp. Dolan visited the school. Didn't change Weakland's order. Adopted the same position as did Bp Callahan: not 'yes,' not 'no.'
I can appreciate home-schoolers wanting to create a more ‘formal’ school setting where orthodoxy and sound teaching are featured. After all, it is why they decided to home-school in the first place - given the sorry condition of many ‘Catholic’ schools. I can also understand the reluctance of any diocese to endorse something that is ‘private’ and not under its control.
However, that can be a mixed blessing – as recent events at the Cardinal Vaughan School in London demonstrate. It is unfortunate that the Academy will not be able to have Mass at the school. It’s also unfortunate that the school is located in a non-Catholic building. Further it is indicative of the state of American education in general - and Catholic education in particular - when parents feel they have to set up their own school to ensure orthodoxy in Faith and a proper learning environment.
The recent irresponsible actions of many in the teaching profession during the State Budget debate don’t inspire confidence in the condition of Wisconsin public education. Finally, that Catholic parents feel the need to set up private schools to ensure sound education should be a reality-check to the bishops and the diocesan establishments.
D: Intersting.
GOR: Totally agree!
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