Archdiocese of Detroit. I mean, Archdiocese of Anywhere but Detroit.
Surprise. These kids can’t find schools.
I was very disappointed when the archdiocese announced the closing of eighteen area schools. I attended Catholic school K-12 and played many of these schools in the Detroit Catholic League. We had a school exchange program with Holy Redeemer and were so impressed with its tight-knit Hispanic community. We were routinely crushed in basketball by Dominican, the last all-girls Catholic high school in Detroit. What will happen to these kids? Why is the archdiocese abandoning the city, opting to instead follow and support its more successful suburban schools?
Despite my personal disagreements with Catholicism, I still believe a Catholic education is a great opportunity. The one-on-one learning experience and extracurricular activities provided by Catholic institutions in the city helped these kids stay in school, graduate and go on to college. At Bishop Borgess, every senior graduated and went on to college. What now?
Chronic annual deficits and dwindling enrollment are to blame. Cardinal Adam Maida says the archdiocese can now focus its resources on strengthening current schools and have a strong and viable presence for years to come in urban areas, in the suburbs, in the rural sections of our Detroit archdiocese.
I read: Especially in the suburbs.
And, you know, I understand funding problems. Money doesn’t grow on trees and all that. I just question their funding priorities. Did “Citizens for the Protection of Marriage” really need $270,000 from the archdiocese? Was it so urgent for them to send me a glossy brochure to “Vote Yes on 2”?
Maybe instead of wasting our time with a taped sermon on marriage being “only the union of a man and woman,” Cardinal Maida should have been rallying support for Detroit schools.
I can’t go to hell for this, can I?
I went to Catholic school all the way up from kindergarten through college and I can’t believe what the archdiocese is doing. Of the three different schools I went to, only my college (UDM) is still open.
I was especially shocked when Holy Redeemer was closed, it was probably the only school actually gaining enrollment.
I hate to say it, but I believe that organized religion (namely Catholicism)has been a business for centuries.
I, too, went to another Catholic League school and remember playing or watching games against most of these teams.
It’s sad. :(
What are you doing about it besides complaining and judging the Cahtolic Church?
What are you going to do about it?
I’m disappointed by your comments.
I’m studying for the priesthood and all I hear is complaining when I know that thinks can get better and will get better because it’s not about the Catholic church, it’s about Christ’s church, seems like we are all forgetting who this church belongs to.
I’ll do my best when I get ordained.
And the answer to your questions is, yes you could go to hell, but not by your questioning, but for your complaining and not doing anytihing about it. It’s also about the kids, what are YOU doing about the kids? are you volunteering? tutoring? mentoring?
“whatever you do to the least of my childrens you do unto me…” said the Lord. If you didnt do anything about them..”I will not recognize you infront of my father…because I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, I was thirsty and you didn’t give me to drink…”
The least you can do is pray.
Thanks
George
Hello, George. Thanks for your comment, I’m happy this entry has elicited some response, especially from a future member of the clergy.
I won’t describe in detail my volunteering or charitable giving efforts — suffice to say, I give what I can of my time and money. Instead, I must stress that I wrote this entry because I think it is important for people, and not just other Catholics, to be aware of what is going on in the archdiocese. Unfortunately, it’s not always a pretty picture. The school closings were a heated issue and there are many, including myself, who question the process and wonder if the archdiocese gave up on these Detroit schools too quickly. I know Cardinal Maida cites Catholic migration and wanting to “be where the people are” as factors in his decision to close Detroit schools, but the church isn’t just here to serve Catholics. The church serves (or should serve) everyone.