First up on Saturday is a panel on the "Challenge of Catholic Schools." Michael Paulson of the Boston Globe is moderating with panelists Mark Gray form CARA or the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington D.C.
Gray examined some statistics from his center on the current state of Catholic schools across the country. The data shows a variety of interesting trends. Gray noted that primary schools have been closing at a higher rate than Catholic high schools.
Gray also looked at the fact that since the baby boom the number of babies baptized annually or pool of potential students has remained consistent. However, while the number of students and schools has been dropping the waiting lists have increased.
The study also looked at comparisons of religious practices of students who attend Catholic schools vs. public schools. Students who attended Catholic schools have place a higher value or respect for the sacraments. Students attending Catholic schools are more likely to consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.
Archbishop Wuerl is speaking on the financial challenges he has faced as archbishop. Catholic school tuition does not equal the cost of educating the students, therefore the schools must rely on other sources of funding.
The archbishop is describing his well-known tuition assistance program which was a unique and innovative approach to funding Catholic schools. The program works with the local community to help fund the schools as Archbishop Wuerl noted, if the schools were to close the local community would have to come up with at least an additional $385 million to educate those same youth.
The program began under the direction of then archbishop, now Cardinal
In 2005, under Archbishop Wuerl the program was reworked and included the opening of one of the new "Cristo Rey" model of Catholic secondary education.
In Pittsburgh, where Archbishop Wuerl previously served, he set up the Extra Mile Education foundation which brought together different faith groups to help keep schools open in the center city.
For Archbishop Wuerl, the fact that the increasing number of non-Catholic students attending Catholic schools is a demonstration of the value of Catholic schools.
