Chaput: Phila. school closings concern parishioners most

Though the clergy sex-abuse scandal has done “great damage” to the Roman Catholic Church and limited its ability to “speak confidently on other issues,” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said anxiety about parish school closings – not abuse – was “the biggest issue people have contacted me about” since he arrived six weeks ago.

But, Chaput told the Inquirer Editorial Board on Thursday, he won’t begin charting any plan of action until he receives a report on the archdiocesan school system that is due in December.

He is “open,” he said, to Gov. Corbett’s proposed state-funded vouchers to help low-income families pay private school tuition.

Vouchers could “help us help poor kids,” he said.

It was his first conversation with the board since he was installed as head of the 1.5 million-member archdiocese Sept. 8.

Though he is still learning the geography of his new archdiocese – he groped momentarily to remember the name of Independence Mall – he said he was struck by how passionately local Catholics identify with their parishes and schools. He said he had not encountered that in Denver, where he was archbishop for 14 years.

He added that he was eager to meet with Mayor Nutter to discuss how city schools and the archdiocese might “cooperate [on education] in ways that respect the separation of church and state.” [more]

SOURCE

Philadelphia Inquirer