tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post2408397377100830090..comments2023-12-16T16:17:43.886+00:00Comments on Fr Ray Blake's Blog: The Excellence of Catholic SchoolsFr Ray Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-22384271251174995192011-01-14T19:52:50.627+00:002011-01-14T19:52:50.627+00:00My children are home educated. Our local Catholic ...My children are home educated. Our local Catholic school will equip them with GCSEs and probably drive them away from the faith for good.<br />I firmly believe the CES are in league with the devil, as are too many of our Bishops.I can name you hundreds of catholic children I went to school with who now have no faith. Hundreds. Generations of catholic families screeching to a halt with my generation.Mummymayhemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17658150899958179479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-71191932250966396262011-01-14T13:15:32.302+00:002011-01-14T13:15:32.302+00:00Ask a school child at a Catholic school about over...Ask a school child at a Catholic school about over population; the AIDS crisis in Africa; the Catholic attitude to contraception and abortion; sex before marriage; the Catholic Church throughout history (a force for good or evil); the medieval period in general and monasteries in particular; their impressions of Catholic monarchs, especially in Tudor times etc. In history and English, are they given stories of heroic virtue and self sacrifice? Are they given something worthy to aspire to, or are they merely trained in narrow cynical dissection which only proves that there is no truth other than their own (ill-formed) opinions?SzukmVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08426458229766186789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-73510106871664627152011-01-14T12:59:17.841+00:002011-01-14T12:59:17.841+00:00Part of the solution? I always wondered why the la...Part of the solution? I always wondered why the last government attacked Catholic schools, since they were doing such a good job of turning out highly secularised model citizens. Maybe it was just a sham to placate the miltant atheists who couldn't see that these schools are very good at turning nominal Catholics into practical atheists, and undermining the faith of those who had some to start with.SzukmVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08426458229766186789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-19098931049311037482011-01-13T00:59:16.993+00:002011-01-13T00:59:16.993+00:00Our Catholic high schools in Australia produce stu...Our Catholic high schools in Australia produce students who, by and large, abandon the Faith a couple of years out of school - other than that they are great!Norahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-44088765948675808652011-01-12T20:14:05.641+00:002011-01-12T20:14:05.641+00:00It is easy to be cynical about reports, especially...It is easy to be cynical about reports, especially educational ones. I am delighted however that the superb contribution which Catholic schools make (in general) to producing fine human beings is recognised. It is not for nothing that our schools are consistently over-subscribe, and are sought after even by parents of no faith.<br />There is often another side, not so rosy. As you say Fr, if these schools produce men and women who hold firm to Christ and are living and credible witnesses to the gospel then the schools have done their job. I suspect that the transmission of the faith in many institutions is a rather low priority.<br />I have been lucky to teach only in Catholic schools, 2 independent (one boarding) and one grant maintained. I was compelled to leave the grant maintained school because of the poverty of the faith that was being transmitted. I can't begin to number the abuses of the sacred liturgy (encouraged, wittingly or otherwise by the chaplain), and the entire atmosphere of the school was sterile regarding the faith. I know that it is difficult to recruit Catholic staff, but I witnessed how damaging to the community it was to have a majority of dissenters, liberals, and those of other/ no faith. All in the name of equality and non-discrimination of course. In fact I was disciplined twice for drawing to the attention of the bishop of the diocese to a number of grave liturgical abuses. Apparently I was putting the reputation of the school in danger by informing him of these matters.<br />I am extremely fortunate now to be in a school which has the visible presence of most holy and orthodox men among it. These priests provide an essential visible link with Christ. Certainly not all staff or students are Catholic, and among those who are i am sure that we have our fair share of liberals and dissenters, but the VISIBLE presence of these men ordained in the service of Christ and their witness of love and truth is incomparable. <br />I heard many stories of old pupils of the state school who had fallen away from the faith, and none of them surprise me. The seeds were sown in overgrown soil, the weeds grew up, the wind blew, there was nothing to nourish them. If our schools produce "nice" pupils who are "well-rounded", with a great sense of "community spirit", then they have failed.<br />They need to produce credible witnesses to Christ.<br /><br />The father of one of my dearest friends attended the school I teach at at present. My friend is now 8 years ordained to the priesthood. You will kow them by their fruits.universal doctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16799857998804342261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-1577221011250214522011-01-12T11:18:53.105+00:002011-01-12T11:18:53.105+00:00Sorry about spelling above! Not good for a teacher...Sorry about spelling above! Not good for a teacher! Using my phone to post!Jackie Parkes MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16693505024823229152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-70912439796877793192011-01-12T10:23:59.619+00:002011-01-12T10:23:59.619+00:00I posted on this. I have found my children have do...I posted on this. I have found my children have done well in Catholic schools & my husband & I as Catholic teachers have had many positive experiences. Out eldest, a doctor & product of Carholic schools has an outstanding faith & is to marry in April with the intention of raising a very large family... God willing.Jackie Parkes MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16693505024823229152noreply@blogger.com