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Posted on 06/04/2025 5:31:56 PM PDT by ebb tide
Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio has falsely accused a self-proclaimed “independent school in the Catholic tradition” of misrepresenting “their Catholic status to the public” in an attempt to discourage displaced schoolchildren from attending the academy.
After The Atonement Catholic Academy announced May 31 that it would soon close due to financial unsustainability, Lumen Christi Academy – an initiative of the Sanctus Ranch founders and within driving distance from Atonement – reportedly contacted parents and teachers of Atonement Catholic Academy to invite them to the K-12 “microschool,” which seeks to provide “an authentically Catholic classical education.”
On Monday, the Archdiocese of San Antonio consequently warned parents against having their children attend Lumen Christi Academy because it is not approved by the archdiocese.
“It is unfortunate that the situation with Sanctus Ranch has devolved to this point, but Sanctus Ranch, the Spiritual Retreat Foundation, and Lumen Christi Academy cannot be allowed to misrepresent their Catholic status to the public, while soliciting and accepting donations from the people of God in the Archdiocese of San Antonio,” García-Siller wrote.
Contrary to the archbishop’s claim, Lumen Christi Academy has made very clear that it is an “independent” school, a description found repeatedly throughout its website. In a prominent message on its homepage, Lumen Christi defends its “decision to remain outside both diocesan control and government accreditation” as “a moral imperative and spiritual necessity.”
Nevertheless, the archbishop claimed that the school is misleading Catholics, writing, “I cannot and will not be silent and witness the people of God being misled by those who are acting independently of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.”
Lumen Christi, in response, defended its canonical integrity, pointing out that it “has never represented itself as an institution operating under diocesan jurisdiction.”
The academy further noted that Canon 215 “guarantees the faithful the right to ‘found and direct associations for purposes of charity or piety or for the promotion of the Christian vocation in the world,’” even if such associations are not endorsed by an ecclesiastical authority.
“The burden of proof lies with ecclesiastical authority to demonstrate that such initiatives misrepresent Catholic identity or doctrine,” Lumen Christi Academy wrote.
The academy emphasizes not only that it “profess(es) the full teachings of the Catholic Church,” but that it strives to go above and beyond the standards of diocesan Catholic schools in its fidelity to Catholic magisterial teaching.
For example, in its critique of the “Catholic” education of “most diocesan schools,” it has pointed out that “traditional Catholic teaching has been replaced with watered-down modernist interpretations that avoid challenging secular culture.”
Moreover, faculty members of diocesan schools “often openly contradict Church teaching on marriage, sexuality, and the sanctity of life,” and the Mass is often “marginalized,” being made available to the students only “occasionally,” if at all.
Writer and liturgist Dr. Peter Kwasniewski defended Lumen Christi Academy in a statement posted to his Facebook page on Tuesday:
Lumen Christi Academy, and Sanctus Ranch where it is located, have come under renewed attack by the Archdiocese of San Antonio and now by the Ordinariate. As this excellent and comprehensive response shows, the attacks are inaccurate and therefore unjust. Lumen Christi Academy, which I have visited personally, is an exemplary private classical Catholic school. Parents of children who have been suddenly stranded by the closure of the Catholic school the children had been attending should read this response, go visit LCA in person, use their own intelligence and make up their own minds as befits mature lay Christians.
Earlier this year, Dan Sevigny, founder of Sanctus Ranch, explained to John-Henry Westen some of the challenges his retreat center — which is across the road from Lumen Christi Academy — has faced since García-Siller’s attempt to prohibit Catholics from attending it.
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Ping
But he loves those illegals!
Garcia-Siller is a Demoncrat first, a bishop a far second.
Does anybody know why the Ordinariate School had to close?
Is this about the TLM? Is there an SSPX connection?
Is this about the TLM? Is there an SSPX connection?
I think it is all about the TLM.
However, I am not aware of the SSPX being involved.
When he's not bashing Trump; Garcia-Siller is slandering traditional Catholics, both laymen and priests.
Pride and a bishop unbecoming.
ebby and something called a catholic lumen Christi spreading confusion. ImagineThat!
Oversight of Catholic Schools and Universities by Local Bishops
Summary of Episcopal Authority
Catholic schools and universities, regardless of how directly a bishop or parish is involved in their day-to-day administration, do fall under the purview of the local diocesan bishop. This oversight is rooted in both canon law and Church teaching, and it applies to all Catholic educational institutions within a bishop’s diocese.
Canonical and Practical Oversight
Canonical Authority: According to Canon Law (specifically canons 801 and 806), Catholic schools can only be established with the consent of the diocesan bishop and are subject to his oversight. The bishop has the right and duty to approve Catholic schools and to exercise vigilance over them, especially in matters of faith and morals, which cannot be delegated away.
Delegation of Administration: While bishops often delegate the day-to-day governance and administration of schools to superintendents, pastors, or boards, this does not remove their ultimate canonical responsibility. The bishop remains the competent ecclesiastical authority and must ensure that diocesan policies and Catholic identity are maintained.
Universities and Ex corde Ecclesiae: For Catholic universities, the apostolic constitution Ex corde Ecclesiae clarifies that the bishop’s role is to promote, assist, and safeguard the Catholic identity of the institution. Bishops are expected to maintain a relationship with the university characterized by mutual trust and regular dialogue, even if they do not participate directly in governance. The bishop is considered a participant in the university’s life, not an external agent.
Pastoral Oversight: The bishop is responsible for the pastoral care of students, faculty, and staff, which includes ensuring access to sacraments and campus ministry. University authorities are expected to work closely with the bishop in appointing pastoral ministers and maintaining Catholic liturgical and spiritual life.
Practical Implications
Recognition as Catholic: For a school or university to be recognized as Catholic, it must be under the direction of church authority or a public juridic person, or be recognized as Catholic by church authority in writing.
Types of Schools: Whether a school is parish-run, diocesan, or operated by a religious order, the bishop’s oversight applies, though the degree and method of involvement may vary depending on the school’s governance structure.
Limits of Delegation: While much operational authority can be delegated, the bishop cannot delegate his responsibility for the Catholic identity and faithfulness to Church teaching in these institutions.
Conclusion
In summary, Catholic schools and universities are always under the purview of the local bishop, even if he or the local parish is not involved in daily administration. His role is foundational and mandated by Church law, especially regarding Catholic identity, faith, and morals. The bishop’s oversight is both a legal and pastoral responsibility, ensuring that these institutions remain authentically Catholic in mission and practice.
Go back in your shell, Oyster.
From your unknown source:
Types of Schools: Whether a school is parish-run, diocesan, or operated by a religious order, the bishop’s oversight applies, though the degree and method of involvement may vary depending on the school’s governance structure.
Lumen Christi is not, and has never claimed, to be " parish-run, diocesan, or operated by a religious order". You're as dishonest and slanderous as your fellow neo-Catholic and Trump-basher, Garcia-Siller. It seems you entire modus operandi on the religion forum is to protest the truth as being lies and presenting lies as "truth".
Satan would be proud of you and you should be ashamed of even presenting yourself as a "catholic" because you certainly don't talk, walk or act like a Catholic.
True. And why do you think the Bishop had to speak out? Because they aren’t Catholic.
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