CATHOLIC education officials reported enrolments dropped more than six per cent in Catholic schools across the United States last year and Bishop Robert Barron urged Catholic schools to return to their purpose – “evangelisation, to declare the lordship of Jesus”.
Talking on his Word on Fire show with Brandon Vogt, Bishop Barron said the purpose of education in the Church is “what everything in the Church is about”.
“‘The Church doesn’t have a mission, the Church is a mission’, as (St) Paul VI told us,” he said.
“It is to evangelise and so that’s the purpose of all Catholic institutions, including and especially schools, to declare the lordship of Jesus.
“Now we do that precisely through our education; not just religious instruction but all the courses have a relationship to Jesus Christ, who’s called the Logos.
“We’re a Logos religion, a Word religion, reasoned religion.
“Therefore, all forms of reason reflect Christ and return to Christ.”
He said whether a student was studying English, Mathematics or Science, because Christ was the Logos, He was reflected and should be taught to be reflected through those other disciplines.
“I want Math teachers that understand how the truths of mathematics are reflective of a creator God, who’s imbued the world with intelligibility,” he said.
“As you know, one of the arguments for God’s existence is the fruitfulness of mathematics… why does mathematics work? How come we can build bridges and we can build buildings and all that? It’s because there’s an intelligibility to the structure of reality, which mathematics reflects.
“Well, that comes from God.”
He said he wanted science teachers who understood the “faith reason rapport”.
It could not be left up to the religion teacher to teach the faith, he said, it had to “pervade the whole place”.
Bishop Barron shared a story about a Catholic principals’ conference he attended, where principals stood up and spoke about their successes in STEM fields, English scores and even new building projects.
He said not one of them spoke about Jesus, evangelisation or the Church.
“As a Catholic bishop, I want schools that proclaim Jesus Christ,” he said.
He said Catholic schools needed a clear profile that brings people “closer to Christ, otherwise we should close our doors”.
Bishop Barron also spoke in support of classical Catholic education.
“I’ve got a marvellous one in my region, the St Augustine Academy, I’ve visited there many times and it’s terrific,” he said.
“They bring the kids through the great books, and the classical intellectual sources.
“They teach them the life of virtue, liturgy is a key element and I love those schools and they are flourishing around the country.”
There are more than 300 classical schools in many dioceses across the United States.
“I’ve urged our Catholic schools to use some of the elements of the classical system,” he said.
He said pastor-principal collaboration was vital for schools.
“Nothing is more important for a Catholic school,” he said.
“ When Catholic schools suffer in my experience is when that (relationship) has broken down.
“The pastor is not paying attention; the pastor is not in dialogue with the principal … there is no setting of vision and direction.”
