February 22, 2008

Bro. Mulligan describes the context in which this discussion is taking place and the “paradigm shift” (a term that’s getting a little tired) in society. The author’s goal is to kick-start some thinking about our future… and that of our children.

From a parish perspective this is a critical discussion. Our schools are (or should/could be) the source for new parishioners both children and their parents. The link between parish/school should be strong and effective. If we don’t invest in our Catholic education system as we have it now, we will be forced to start again from scratch with an internal school system such as exist in the United States. As a member of an international religious order, I know too many parishes that really struggle to keep their schools going. Do we really want to go that route? Not me.

As a Catholic community we have helped forge the society we now have in Ontario. We have helped create a society which welcomes everyone, based on our Christian and Catholic social teaching. Now that same society is turning its back its own foundations. We need to reclaim our place at the communal table. Faith and Religion are not only to be tolerated in Ontario, they are part of the heart of what makes us strong.

http://riccioli.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/

The Catholic community must accept that their school funding will likely be eliminated within 10 years if the other faiths are not also guaranteed some manner of funding (within the public system or outside as some sort of tax credit or voucher.) The Catholic community should be doing everything possible to ensure reasonable funding for the other faiths’ schools.

It should be obvious that the one third of this province who call themselves Catholic did not come out in support of John Tory is the past election. Since the issue of faith-based school funding is accepted as the defining issue in an election where both parties had similar platforms, this is shocking. I wonder if the Catholic community is not only interested in holding onto their funding, but prefers to remain the only ones with funding. After all, it is representatives of the Catholic community who are often quoted in the media as seeing their funding as a “privilege” as opposed to a (lucky) legal obligation by the government in light of the fact that other faiths (who contribute equally to the tax base) are not funded.

What needs to be stressed to the media is not the obvious value of Catholic education, rather the value of faith-based education for all communities. As a show of goodwill I would suggest a fundraiser by the Catholic community with proceeds for other faith’s schools.

It should not escape the Catholic communities consciousness that merely lobbying provincial politicians will be enough. It is the federal government’s responsibility to ensure that all provinces comply with the human rights legislation signed with the provinces’ support. A non-political, non-partisan United Nations commitee comprised of international judges is planning a third ruling on the issue of discrimination in school funding in Ontario. It is important for the federal politicians to be lobbied to step in and ensure that a resolution takes place. After all, don’t they write the transfer payments to the provinces? Couldn’t they hint at the benefits to a resolution?

While all of Canada was riveted on the media attention to this issue last fall, most of us were unaware what a ’cause celebre’ this has become internationally with articles printed all over the US and Europe and as far away as China and Australia. The tone shared a common theme: how dare Canada present itself as one of the world’s most successful multicultural societies while discriminating against non-Catholics in Ontario?

Concern from many individuals in the Catholic community (and the bishop’s conference) in the form of letters and statements will not be enough. Action is needed to bring about funding for all faiths – not merely action to preserve a Catholic “privelege”.