God bless our Catholic schools

Richard A. Sokerka

Earlier this month, Glenview Elementary School in Haddon Heights received a letter from New Jersey’s American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) asking them to stop requiring students to say “God bless America” after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. This school has been doing this for more than 14 years — since Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists’ attacks. Soon after receiving the latter, the school district quickly acquiesced to the ACLU and students are no longer required to say “God Bless America.”

This is just the latest example of how those in secular society continue to look for any chance to chip away in their mission to have the name of God removed from every public nook and cranny where it is displayed and to ban the mention of God in any public conversation.

As a faith-filled community, Catholics should be alarmed that efforts like this are happening more and more with no end in sight. In most cases, there is a total capitulation to the “politically-correct” attitude that now reigns in our nation.

But Catholics can take great pride in knowing that what happened in that one elementary school will never happen in our Catholic schools. They are our bastions of faith-filled learning where the name of God is praised every day of the school year because they embrace our Catholic identity rooted in Gospel values, centered on the Eucharist, and are committed to faith formation, academic excellence and service.

That’s the very essence as to why our Catholic Schools are so important. And as we prepare to celebrate Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 31-Feb. 6), all of us need to support them in whatever way we can, not only during this special week but also throughout the academic year.

Take time during Catholic School Week to encourage students to know just how blessed they are to be able to attend a Catholic school and how the grounding in faith, knowledge and service it provides will help them to use their God-given talents to the fullest later in life.

During Catholic Schools Week, Wednesday, Feb. 3 is designated as National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools. On that day, students, families, educators and other Catholic school supporters will have the freedom to communicate the value of Catholic education to government leaders. They will have the chance to share information with leaders on the significant contributions Catholic schools make to the nation and their role in preparing students to be good citizens. And most importantly, on that day — as they do every day before the start of classes — they will pray for the nation and all those who serve it and ask God’s blessing on America without the fear that they will ever be told that they have to stop praying in their school.