The Bishop Writes

(From the April 29, 1999 edition of the Inland Register)

“To Teach As Jesus Did” is a pastoral letter from the bishops of the United States. The letter, which the bishops approved at their meeting in the autumn of 1972, addresses the subject of Catholic education.

In a world filled with so much information these days, teaching as a mission in the spirit of Jesus has become even more important and critical in our modern times. Information explosion is almost an understatement. Fortunately in the Church, we have the strong tradition of teaching and educating.

One of the primary roles of a bishop is to teach. Remember, too, that parents are called — appropriately — the primary educators of their children.

Further, some of the first works of the Church as she established herself in new areas of the world were educational institutions. We readily see that witness in our own history of the Church in the Northwest.

Today the Church expends a considerable amount of energy and resources in teaching and educating. Religious education classes in every parish, Catholic primary and secondary schools, and the Catholic system of colleges and universities — the largest such system in the world — are and have been well established for decades.

The support and maintenance of this mission continues to be a challenge for many reasons. Our tradition as a Church is rich. Our focus on God’s loving presence in our liturgical life, our body of teaching, and our journey of faith as God’s people continues to be a jumping-off point for continuing faith formation and instruction.

In a rapidly changing world, we need to be anchored in our faith tradition. We need to have values which are consistent with the life of Jesus, which are life giving, and which protect our relationship with God and the human family.

Given this atmosphere, we need education more than ever. Complexity of situations, competing and conflicting values, and the sudden connectedness with the global family provide unusual opportunities for using our Christian values and social teaching of the Church to assess, to challenge, and to deepen our spiritual maturity as we journey into the future.

Catholic schools have played a very important role in our mission of Christian formation. In the U.S. bishops’ letter “To Teach As Jesus Did” are found these words: “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 adulthood according to the mature measure of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:13). We call upon all members of the Catholic community to do everything in their power to maintain and strengthen Catholic schools which embrace the threefold purpose of Christian education.”

Catholic schools here in the Northwest have had a tremendous impact upon the life of the Church. This mission has been carried out and supported by so many generous and dedicated people.

I would urge those of you who have the opportunity to do so to enroll your children in Catholic schools. This gift and concern for your children can have a tremendous impact upon them for the rest of their lives.

Finally, in reflecting upon our Church’s mission of Catholic education, I would suggest some important points to remember:

• Most of our students in the diocese do not have the opportunity to enroll in Catholic schools. We as Church should care about the formation of all of our children, youth, and adults. Thus, religious education programs are very important and must be supported by the Catholic community. Adults should especially be mindful of the need to give witness of constant learning to younger members of the Church.
• As citizens we have the serious responsibility to support public education and make it the best possible. Any form of insult toward the public school system, especially while contrasting it to our Catholic school system, is arrogant and inappropriate. On the other hand, I would hope that the public system could appreciate the considerable subsidy Catholic schools indirectly give to them. Catholic school parents are doubly “taxed” by their commitment — paying their regular taxes to support the public schools, and then tuition payments in addition, to the Catholic schools.
• The sacrifice of Catholic parents for Catholic schools is an excellent witness of placing great importance upon the education of the children. The title of a recent pastoral letter of U.S. bishops, “Children and Families First,” comes to mind. The support of our Catholic system continues to be a great challenge. I am proud and grateful for the generous witness and involvement of so many.
• The Catholic identity of our schools is very important. As with so many other areas of Church life, the search for deepening our identity continues always as a work unfinished. Everyone should embark upon that mission in a collaborative and supportive spirit.

As we celebrate this Easter season and soon will celebrate Pentecost, we ask for wisdom and guidance as God continues to touch our lives. We all continue to be taught. We also accept the responsibility to teach. The mission continues.

May God bless you and give you peace and joy.

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