The Premier of Ontario, in claiming that he may impose a particular ideology on Catholic schools has actually made a very dangerous statement. He has moved the "goal posts" of what a premier should be - constitutionally, historically and morally - towards that of a tyrant; a political entity that through the use of power, imposes ideology upon individual consciences through State monopoly of thought. There will be nothing to stop him from imposing on other social bodies. Very, very dangerous - we've been through this before: Caesar through to modern examples such as Bismarck, the French Republic contra Pius X, Lenin, Mussolini, Hitler etc...
To firmly establish what Catholic education is, and the role the Church may play in Society vis-a-vis Her liberty and Her involvement in education - and why McGuinty and OECTA are so wrong - let us read the words of the Holy Father from 2008 in an address to American educators:
This same dynamic of communal identity – to whom do I belong? – vivifies the ethos of our Catholic institutions. A university or school’s Catholic identity is not simply a question of the number of Catholic students. It is a question of conviction... do we accept the truth Christ reveals? Is the faith tangible in our universities and schools?...
From this perspective one can recognize that the contemporary “crisis of truth” is rooted in a “crisis of faith”. Only through faith can we freely give our assent to God’s testimony and acknowledge him as the transcendent guarantor of the truth he reveals...
Subsequently we observe, with distress, the notion of freedom being distorted. Freedom is not an opting out. It is an opting in – a participation in Being itself. Hence authentic freedom can never be attained by turning away from God...
With regard to the educational forum, the diakonia of truth takes on a heightened significance in societies where secularist ideology drives a wedge between truth and faith. This division has led to a tendency to equate truth with knowledge and to adopt a positivistic mentality which, in rejecting metaphysics, denies the foundations of faith and rejects the need for a moral vision. Truth means more than knowledge: knowing the truth leads us to discover the good. Truth speaks to the individual in his or her entirety, inviting us to respond with our whole being. This optimistic vision is found in our Christian faith because such faith has been granted the vision of the Logos, God’s creative Reason, which in the Incarnation, is revealed as Goodness itself. Far from being just a communication of factual data – “informative” – the loving truth of the Gospel is creative and life-changing – “performative” (cf. Spe Salvi, 2). With confidence, Christian educators can liberate the young from the limits of positivism and awaken receptivity to the truth, to God and his goodness. In this way you will also help to form their conscience which, enriched by faith, opens a sure path to inner peace and to respect for others.
The full Papal address may be read here.
1 comment:
Never mind the fact that our politicians are pushing for levels of social control that scare me. Ignore the fact that McGinty is playing a hand that leads towards the end of the separate school system. Forget that most people are accustomed to thinking with parts of their anatomy far removed from their head. Pay no attention to the impending train wreck that is unfolding in slow motion before our very eyes. The real question is "What is OECTA up to?"
Let's put this into perspective, shall we? This link lists a total of 49 organizations and groups in some sort of dissent from the magisterium. I'm sure some enterprising individual with more time than me can come up with a Canadian list. Apparently the enemy can come up with more front organizations than a bunch of trotskyites on a bender.
http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/dissent/dissorg.htm
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