Catholics can no longer maintain the parochial school system.

Catholics must maintain the parochial school system.

These contradictory views were discussed Tuesday night by a priest and a layman as part of the observance of Catholic Education Week in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Father John Meyers, former superintendent of Catholic schools in Dallas-Fort Worth said, “It is the 1960’s, not the 1860’s. The immigrant, his son and grandson have kept their faith and have nothing to fear from the public school. We are not different from other Americans and the school separation is no longer needed.”

Catholics have new goals—academic, civic, interracial justice, interfaith cooperation, Father Meyers said. “If these are the goals, Catholic schools are no longer needed and in some cases they are a hindrance.”

The priest said money is not the greatest problem, it is the administration of Catholic schools.

“Usually a bishop selects a priest, layman or nun as a superintendent and then delegates little authority to see that a diocese has a good school system.

“We don’t have a system, we have a myriad of independent Catholic schools run by pastors who may or may hot have an interest in education,” Father Meyers commented.

“It’s fantastic what is going to happen in education, and I see little hope the Catholic schools will have the leadership they will need.”

Father Meyers also said the parochial school is a divisive factor in the life of a parish. “Human nature makes it hard for us to treat parochial and CCD children as equals. Parents of children in the parish school work tonight as a clique and don’t work with parents of children in public schools.”

The former superintendent said adult education must be emphasized. “And, in conclusion, I would say that parents have done a tremendous job in building. The schools are monuments to the faith and I am proud of them, but I think it is time not to destroy the monument, but to build another one.”

Taking the affirmative on the future of Catholic schools, Richard T. Corrado, assistant school superintendent in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, said there is no evidence that Catholic schools are academically inferior.

“Catholics who have attended Catholic schools have been more successful than those who have not. There is also no evidence parochial schools are a divisive factor in the community. Catholics are just as likely to engage in civic affairs and be as tolerant to those of other faiths as Catholics who go to public schools.”

Corrado said he realizes that a Catholic school has little effect on a person’s faith if there is no family background. “But if there is a family background in religion, the schools enforce this.”

He said Catholic schools are still very popular and the most frequent complaint is there are not enough of them.

Corrado said to talk of money as a prime problem overlooks a bigger problem. “We haven’t found a satisfactory system to support the Church and we need a change in attitude. There is evidence we can get it…it is already taking place in what I feel is a massive movement to broaden the base of the decision-making machinery.”

He said Catholics must also learn to use the political system as other groups do to aid their schools.

Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin offered some comments on the archdiocesan system after Corrado and Father Meyers finished their talks.

He said Catholic education is in a crisis and the issues must be discussed. “Reappraisal will take time and require the best efforts of all of us. We must avoid listening uncritically to a vocal segment which says the parochial schools have outlived their usefulness, but if they are to continue they must be quality schools.”

The bishop said it should not be forgotten that the public schools in Atlanta and other cities have serious problems.

Outlining the policy of the archdiocese, Bishop Bernardin said, “We have no plans to phase out our schools. We intend to improve them and keep them open as long as the people want them and we can afford them.

“However, at the same time we intend to develop alternatives—the School of Religion—and we must spend a proportionate amount on Catholic children attending these schools of religion.

The bishop also said Catholics must assist other areas in the community including the poor.

Sam McQuaid, chairman of the Archdiocesan Board of Education, introduced the speakers and Father Daniel J. O’Connor, secretary for education, gave the opening prayer.