San Fran Teachers Shift from Contracts to Doctrine: Great Reversal in Church Teaching Underway

The National Catholic Register ^ | 5/21/15 | Joan Desmond

[marshmallow]

In an escalation of the teacher-contract dispute in the San Francisco Archdiocese, a spokesman affiliated with the group opposing Archbishop Cordileone published a manifesto that dismissed his "interpretation" of Catholic teaching as a flawed approach that required "fraternal" correction.

"Archbishop Cordileone’s authority is not in his assertions but in his arguments," read the rambling open letter addressed to school administrators. Published in the National Catholic Reporter, the May 20 statement was written by Jim McGarry, a former Catholic high school teacher, who once taught religious studies at the Jesuit-run St. Ignatius College Prepatory and at Mercy High School.

Supporters of Archbishop Cordileone's have questioned whether the hard core group opposing the contract language was solely concerned with job security for teachers. Now, McGarry argues that high school religion classess are a good place to tinker with doctrine, and he's furious that Archbishop Cordileone won't endorse this lesson plan.

In February, Archbishop Cordileone proposed new language for the teacher contracts that directed teachers at the four high schools under his direct jurisdiction to avoid any public statements or actions that contradicted Catholic teaching on issues like abortion, in vitro fertilization, same-sex marriage and contraception.

The teachers' union, which represents the faculty at the four schools, opposed the language, arguing that it threatened the teachers' job security and fomented discrimination. Critics also targeted new faculty handbooks, which spelled out Catholic teaching on sensitive issues like homosexual relations and featured passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Cordileone has since agreed to modified language that has been endorsed by the' superintendent of schools.

[Mrs. Don-o]

This Jim McGarry has done just what Leandro Perez did in Louisiana over 50 years ago --- when opposing the desegregation of the Catholic schools: frontally and explicitly opposed the Archbishop's authority. He and his posse were publicly excommunicated from the Catholic Church by Archbishop Joseph Rummel of New Orleans in 1962.

Sometimes excommunication is the best communication.

And besides, it would be good pastoral practice: they won't repent unless they first get booted out.

Out they should go, Arbp. Cordileone!

[Salvation]

Bumping that!

[CdMGuy]

From the National Catholic Reporter, AKA The Fish Wrap. This publication was told many years ago by the local Bishop to stop using the word Catholic as it was not in compliance with Catholic doctrine. It continues to refuse to stop using the word Catholic in its name.

[Campion]

The article is from the National Catholic *Register* (run by EWTN). The Fish Wrap is mentioned in the article, however.