[Conservative til I die]

In Manhattan, at some of the more outdated parishes, I would gather that most of the students at Catholic schools aren't even Catholic. I used to have a girlfriend that attended high school over in the 30s all the way on the West Side, and it was probably 75% black. I guess they want to fill the school rather than close it down, even though closing it down might make more sense.

The high schools on the Upper East Side don't require you to be a member of any particular parish. Of course catholic high schools are a little different than catholic grade schools, but yeah, there's no hard, universal rule about who gets admitted to Catholic school.

[saradippity]

there's no hard,universal rule on who gets admitted to Catholic school"

Yes,I heard that the late Cardinal O'Conner,believed that education in Catholic schools was superior and that the key to improving the lot of minorities was to give them the benefit of a Catholic education.Since most of them could not afford it,Catholics from all over the nation were solicited to help him maintain the schools and offer the oppurtunity to those who were not Catholic and could not afford tuition.

I know I always responded to his letters and sent donations because I did think he was right,and as a Successor of the Apostles,in a local Church,he was using the prerogative he possessed to "go out and baptize and teach all nations what I have commanded you".In his fulfilling this mission in his local diocese of the Roman Catholic Church,he put the finances of the church in NY in a bad way.But I know that God will take care of things.With the huge problems with the "government school" education in New York,he was right to promote a superior education for minorities.

The situation in Oregon with the "two mommies" is so totally different,there it is merely,getting the camel's nose under the tent,and if I were a Catholic in Oregon I would certainly let the school know how very much their stand is appreciated.