Two weeks ago, the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Calif. made the news because its bishop, Robert Vasa, is requiring teachers at Cardinal Newman High School to sign, as part of their contract for next year, an affirmation of faith that says they abide by Catholic teaching and agree with the Church on matters of “modern errors”—abortion, homosexual marriage, etc. The initial reactions to this range from, “How dare he?” to, “Finally, a bishop is cracking down.”
The first thing to establish is that Cardinal Newman High School is run by the diocese. True, it is not a parochial school—it does not belong to a parish. Nevertheless, it is under the direction of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, and thus ultimately falls under the direction of the bishop. One of a bishop’s main jobs, as defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is to “preserve God’s people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the objective possibility of professing the ‘true faith’ (Catholicism) without error.” The effect of education in a person’s overall development means the bishop must take the content of such education seriously, especially when it falls under his responsibility. That aspect of the bishop’s required affirmation is very understandable. “I’m not presuming that the campus is liberal or conservative [in terms of Catholicism],” he is quoted as saying. “I am simply fulfilling my duty and responsibility to make sure that the Catholic faith, as it is presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is clearly and consistently taught in the Catholic institutions of the diocese.”
The buck stops with him in terms of the faith lives within his diocese, and he is taking proactive steps to ensure that the biggest outlet of Roman Catholic teaching—save only the pulpit on Sundays—is consistent with the beliefs he is in charge of defending and promoting.
But is a required assent for teachers a step too far? According to the superintendent of the diocese, John Collins, about 25 percent of the teachers are non-Catholic. It is also safe to assume that a portion of the remaining 75 percent are ostensibly Catholic, but personally differ on certain matters of Catholic doctrine, especially doctrines on “modern errors.” Is it fair to require them to sign, as part of their contract, a confirmation they believe in and will profess such contented doctrines?
Consider the situation from the bishop’s perspective. He is not only the ultimate authority of the school; he is also the shepherd of souls for those who belong to the diocese. This no doubt includes most of the students at Cardinal Newman High School, and, as mentioned above, 75 percent of the staff. The most important thing to realize is the school is not just a secondary school as understood in secular terms, it is not just a private school either. It is a place where parents send their children to get a Catholic education, and everything that comes with, and where teachers—even in non-religious subjects—should be expected to provide just that. I understand many parents send their non-Catholic children to Catholic schools, but we need to remember that the purpose of these institutions is not just to educate in a private setting, with all-school Masses and exposure to Jesus posters as part of the trade-off. The affirmation of faith is an attempt to ensure Cardinal Newman High School remains a Catholic institution. What it is essentially saying is, “If you want to work here, you need to be on board with Catholic teaching.” This is not an asinine concept after all. It is the bishop’s school and he is a Catholic bishop.
If Cardinal Newman was simply a private school, the assent of faith would indeed be problematic. But parents who enroll their children there and teachers who seek employment from Bishop Vasa need to understand that they are entering the Catholic Church’s territory when they enter the building. Considering the bishop’s duty and the purpose of Catholic schools, the affirmation is simply a check to make sure Cardinal Newman High School is continuing to “preserve God’s people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the objective possibility of professing the true faith without error.” Those who disagree with the “true faith,” especially the teachers with conscientious objections to signing the document, must look around and realize where it is they are employed, and for what purpose their institution is supposed to be working. It should be obvious that Catholic schools run by the diocese are supposed to be more than just nominally Catholic. Accepting employment at such a school, like it or not, must also be an acceptance of the whole package, proper care of Catholic children’s souls and all.
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