THE TABLET JANUARY 28, 2006

SCHOOLS YOU CAN BELIEVE IN

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 29-Feb. 4) is an opportunity for me to reaffirm my support for the work of principals, teachers and other staff members of our wonderful elementary and secondary schools. This week is also an opportunity to thank parents for their sacrifices and commitment to providing their children with the atmosphere of faith in action, which permeates Catholic schools. Over the next two weeks, I will visit 12 schools in our four vicariates to thank the teachers, administration and children for making Catholic schools what they are.

Across the country, in the major archdioceses and dioceses, as well as here in Queens and Brooklyn, Catholic elementary schools have faced a sobering reality of declining enrollments and increasing costs. Last year, we saw an unprecedented number of schools close and merge with other neighboring schools. Some neighborhoods saw reorganized schools beginning to operate with new governance structures. The Task Force for Catholic Elementary Schools, which I established in January 2004, expanded its membership in an effort to clarify and further develop its recommendations with regard to school governance issues.

I believe you are aware that the elementary school enrollment in Catholic schools across the Diocese is down again this year by nearly 3,000 students. About 1,000 children and their families moved out of the Diocese last year, continuing a similar trend over the past several years. Catholics marrying later in life and fewer children baptized in Brooklyn and Queens mean that Catholic families are smaller, a trend that does not seem to be abating. A declining number of students in Catholic schools will inevitably lead to some parishes no longer being able to operate elementary schools. That is a sad but certain reality that we will face again this year.

Some parishes have all but exhausted whatever reserves they had to keep their schools open, and when the reserves are gone, so is the school. Tuition increments are dictated by the increased cost of operating a school and those increments can severely impact the poor and even so-called "middle-class" families. Something significant has to occur on many fronts if Catholic elementary schools are to continue to exist and to be the very best way of handing on the faith to future generations of Catholics.

In conjunction with Cardinal Edward Egan and the other diocesan bishops in New York State, we began last year to increase our efforts to gain support for education tax credit legislation. As a Church, in conjunction with other faith-based groups, we have been seeking some kind of tax relief for parents who send their children to non-public schools. This campaign has suffered fits and starts at the local and national levels over the years. Too much time has passed, and we still do not have this legislation, which would ease some of the burden tuition-paying parents face.

Some people of good will could question our resolve to achieve this goal since we have been trying for so long. On February 14 parents, parishioners and schoolchildren from across the state will join my brother bishops and myself in Albany to show our support for this kind of legislation, and to seek the support of our elected representatives. You must act to let your representatives in Albany, and the governor, know that you want them to support the passage of this legislation and sign it into law. Please consider making this trip to Albany with the buses being chartered by schools in our Diocese. We need to see education tax credits enacted into law this year.

Along with the bishops of the state, I applaud the bold action the governor took last week when he called for a $500 education tax credit in his Executive Budget for parents of children in underperforming public school districts. This would help parents pay for tuition at independent and religious schools. At the same time, we continue to support an expanded version of the governor's proposal such as the legislation noted above.

A recent news account spoke of the unprecedented efforts of private philanthropy in support of public schools, which is a wonderful development. I believe the case for the support of Catholic schools to be even more compelling. I also believe that an outreach to the corporate and philanthropic community, as well as to successful Catholic school alumni, is an essential element of securing the future of Catholic schools.

In this new year, the Diocese will launch a special initiative to reach out systematically and secure this kind of major support to provide tuition assistance for students attending Catholic schools. I know that together, parents and parishioners, pastors, principals and teachers are as committed as I am to preserving Catholic education in as many areas of the Diocese as possible.

Also, we need more scholarship dollars from Futures in Education to draw new students to Catholic schools and retain those already in schools. Increased support for Futures is essential even as we look for additional sources of scholarship aid.

I call this column "Put Out Into the Deep." The "deep" is a scary place. However, with the help of the Lord and under the patronage of His Blessed Mother, our patroness, we will transform the "deep." I am confident that you will help me to do this because Catholic schools are such a precious gift that must be preserved and handed down into the future.