San Francisco archbishop not backing down on policies for Catholic-school teachers

February 25, 2015

After the San Francisco Chronicle issued a report claiming that Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone plans to rescind a plan to treat parochial-school teachers as “ministers,” the San Francisco archdiocese issued a quick rebuttal, saying that the archbishop had no plans to change his policy.

“The archbishop has not repealed anything,” explained Father John Piderit, the moderator of the curia. He said that in a meeting with the editorial board of the Chronicle the archbishop had done his best to explain and clarify his policy. “Nothing already planned to go in is being removed or retracted or withdrawn.”

The archbishop has agreed that instead of using the term “ministers” to describe schoolteachers, he will refer to their work as “ministry,” Father Piderit said. The purpose of that language is to “guarantee that the teachers in the Catholic archdiocesan high schools promote the Catholic mission of the institutions."

 

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Further information:

• S.F. archbishop reassessing strict morals code for teachers (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Archdiocese Responds to Chronicle Article on Editorial Board Meeting (San Francisco archdiocese)