Within the past year, a number of home school cooperative or satellite programs have approached parishes within the Diocese of San Diego, seeking to establish programs on parish sites. Some of these programs have also sought to establish religious formation or sacramental preparation programs within the parish setting that are dedicated specifically for home school students. This has become a source of tension within the diocese.
Two weeks ago, the Diocese established a new policy on the use of parish buildings for educational programs. This policy was passed by the Presbyteral Council by a vote of thirteen to one and was approved by Cardinal McElroy.
Four principles underlay this policy:
- Catholic teaching makes clear that parents are the first teachers of their children in faith and in choosing the educational setting for their children.
- The historic ministry of Catholic schools lies at the center of the Church’s educational mission. In approaching the question of basing home school cooperatives in parishes, the vibrancy of our Catholic schools takes precedence. It must be recognized that the movement toward housing home school related activities in the parish will inevitably create the impression that the Church is endorsing a parallel educational model without the in-depth educational oversight that the Church carries out in its parochial school program.
- For Catholic children who do not attend Catholic schools, the parish should provide an integrated faith formation program which is normative for sacramental preparation in the parish. All students within the parish should participate in the same program together as a sign of the integrity of the community of faith. The Church blesses all of its children equally and blesses equally all of the choices that parents have made for their children.
- The Diocese supports the decision of a growing number of parents to choose home-schooling for their children. At the same time this support does not include a right for basing integral elements of home-schooling programs in parish settings. Home schooling is not inherently a ministry of the parish.
As a consequence, home school programs will not be provided designated special access to the parish facilities of the Diocese of San Diego.