San Francisco city officials, most Catholic-school teachers, challenge archbishop's policy
March 05, 2015
San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone faces mounting opposition to his plan to ensure that Catholic-school teachers uphold the principles of the faith. Four-fifths of the teachers in archdiocesan schools have signed a petition against the new rules, and the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco have unanimously approved a resolution opposing the archbishop’s policy.
In their petition, Catholic-teachers charge that the policy set forth in a new handbook, barring public support for policies that clash with Church teaching, are “harmful to our community and create an atmosphere of mistrust and fear.”
Mark Farrell, who sponsored the resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors, said that the archbishop’s policies “really conflict with the values of San Francisco.”
Archbishop Cordileone has said that he instituted the new policies to ensure that teachers are not undermining Church teaching, and that Catholic schools are carrying out their mission to educate children in the faith.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- SF Supes tell archbishop his morality clauses are unwanted (Chronicle)
- S.F. archdiocese teachers overwhelmingly reject moral strictures (Los Angeles Times)
- San Francisco archbishop not backing down on policies for Catholic-school teachers (CWN, 2/25)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: Gregory108 -
Mar. 06, 2015 2:40 AM ET USA
I agree. I don't think it is possible to be a true Christian, much less a true Catholic, without conflicting with the values of San Francisco! In this case, you can really serve only one master, since the two choices are so completely opposed to each other. There is no middle ground here, and the archbishop is clearly on the correct side.
-
Posted by: claire5327 -
Mar. 05, 2015 11:28 PM ET USA
Catholic educational system has helped to educate more students from K to universities grads professionals for over 200 years...... Now, the teachers of the same schools are having problem obeying the Catholic Majesterium which is the Teaching of the Faith! May be those teachers should leave, and give those positions to those who love the Faith.Even a dog will never bite the hand that feed it! Be grateful! Gratitude is the attitude of Beatitude!
-
Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
Mar. 05, 2015 8:11 PM ET USA
That petition doesn't say much for the strength of the faith of four fifths of the teachers in the San Francisco Catholic schools, and it further justifies the need for the new contract language.
-
Posted by: bppettie -
Mar. 05, 2015 7:40 PM ET USA
Ok, so what? Tell the San Francisco politicians to go jump in the lake and fire the teachers who don't sign the contracts.... A smaller truthful Church is better than a big Church based on lies and compromise.
-
Posted by: nbeck -
Mar. 05, 2015 7:03 PM ET USA
The Archbishop *must* hold the line here. Only one vibrant orthodox Catholic school is better than a multitude of heterodox or lukewarm ones. One need only look to the lessons of the 19th and 20th centuries to see how great can be the power of education to shape young minds for good or ill (e.g. Republican France, interwar Czechoslovakia, etc).
-
Posted by: LCRich -
Mar. 05, 2015 7:02 PM ET USA
So, 80% of the current Catholic High School teachers insist they must be allowed to publicly support In "policies that clash with Church teaching, are 'harmful to our community and create an atmosphere of mistrust and fear.'" Obviously these teachers need to be removed from the Catholic schools as they cannot be trusted to uphold Church teachings. Their signing of the petition proves why Archbishop Cordileone had to do what he did. Thank you, Archbishop, for defending our Faith!
-
Posted by: unum -
Mar. 05, 2015 7:01 PM ET USA
The only fair resolution is for the government schools to teach the "values of San Francisco" and the Catholic schools can teach the values of the Catholic Church. Then, let the parents decide what is best for their kids. I'm betting the Catholic schools will do just fine!
-
Posted by: Jason C. -
Mar. 05, 2015 5:16 PM ET USA
"Four-fifths of the teachers in archdiocesan schools have signed a petition against the new rules...." Wow, the archdiocesan education chair is going to be busy. First up is planning a diocese-wide schools jobs fair to replace that 80% of his workforce in the next few months.
-
Posted by: Frodo1945 -
Mar. 05, 2015 4:37 PM ET USA
Mark Farrell, who sponsored the resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors, said that the archbishop’s policies “really conflict with the values of San Francisco.” Well, there you have it. Archbishop Cordileone must be doing something right! I hope and pray that he sticks to the gospel, no matter what happens.
