BUSH OFF KEY IN SINGING PRAISES OF PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS

PhxNews ^

[hsmomx3]

VOUCHER "RELIGION TAX," ATHEIST GROUP CHARGES

President George Bush is wrong in supporting a voucher scheme to aid Washington, DC parochial schools and other religion-affiliated schools the country, an Atheist civil rights groups charged today.

On Saturday, Mr. Bush sang the praises of Catholic education in a White House ceremony that included more than 200 Roman Catholic officials, including members of the National Catholic Education Association. Once again, the President singled out religious belief for adulation noting "Catholic schools carry out a great mission, to serve God by building knowledge and character... By teaching the word of God, you prepare your students to follow a path of virtue..." Bush added that he is pressuring Congress to pass a $14 million voucher experiment that would mostly benefit Parochial schools through a Washington, DC voucher scheme.

Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, said that Mr. Bush has no business using public funds to support religious schools.

"Bush is singling out the Catholic Parochial school system for special treatment while he is busy gutting the secular public school system," Johnson said. She also questioned whether it was appropriate to "reward" the Roman Catholic Church, which has access to millions of young people after the devastating and embarrassing pedophile scandal.

"The church is being held financially accountable for clerics who terrorized and molested young boys over decades; and now the taxpayers are being asked to bail out Roman Catholic schools through a publicly funded voucher program," said Johnson.

Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, charged that Bush made false and misleading statements about the Parochial school system. The president, for instance, praised Catholic schools for their high academic standards.

"Catholic schools can 'pick and choose' students, a luxury the public schools do not have," said Silverman. "The public schools must educate all students."

Silverman noted that while Bush praised the Catholic school system for reaching out to minorities, statistics indicate that many parochial districts have a shoddy record on racial balance. In New Orleans, for instance, only 6% of enrolled students in Catholic schools are African-American.

"We need to spend more money on public education for all," said Silverman. "It's unfair to impose a 'Religion Tax' in order to support the religious school system of the Roman Catholic Church."

American Atheists is a nationwide movement, which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers, works for the separation of church and state, and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

[freeangel]

Have you ever heard of a Catholic school turning down students? It's been a LONG time since I attended, but it seemed everyone who asked was accepted.

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[Always Right]

On Saturday, Mr. Bush sang the praises of Catholic education in a White House ceremony that included more than 200 Roman Catholic officials, including members of the National Catholic Education Association. Once again, the President singled out religious belief for adulation noting "Catholic schools carry out a great mission, to serve God by building knowledge and character... By teaching the word of God, you prepare your students to follow a path of virtue..."

Oh the horrors! How dare the President say such things....

[egarvue]

Actually, the Catholic schools here in my town (there's several) turn down students - because there's a waiting list a mile long.

[goodnesswins]

"We need to spend more money on public education for all"

Oh, sheesh.....it's ALWAYS about MONEY.

[2banana]

VOUCHER "RELIGION TAX," ATHEIST GROUP CHARGES

As opposed to the "non-religious" tax of government support for groups that are directly in conflict to religious values.

[AppyPappy]

"Catholic schools can 'pick and choose' students, a luxury the public schools do not have,"

Hence, Columbine.

[The_Eaglet]

Bush added that he is pressuring Congress to pass a $14 million voucher experiment that would mostly benefit Parochial schools through a Washington, DC voucher scheme.

Not only is Bush off key, he is singing the wrong tune.

The Constitution does not authorize the federal government to fund education except perhaps as a benefit to its employees.

I am a Christian, and I support private education. However, the federal government should not be involved in vouchers, controlling education, or funding it in other forms. This is a reserved power of the states and the People, and the best way to restore this would be to cut back on education spending and pass the savings back to the people through lowered tax demands.

[Salvation]

Many Catholic schools have long waiting lists (50-60 names). I can't speak for all in general, but in my exeperience there are lengthy waiting lists.

Yes, Catholics Schools are once again a hot item. And not just for Catholic students. Many Christian students are also on these lists (or are currently attending),

[Salvation]

Catholic Education Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via Freepmail if you would like to be added to or removed from the Catholic Education Discussion Ping list.

[ArrogantBustard]

The Catholic Schools around here (WashDC, NoVa, MD) almost all have waiting lists ... number of applicants exceeds available space. Two new Catholic high schools are under construction in NoVa, as well as several elementary schools.

[ArrogantBustard]

"Catholic schools can 'pick and choose' students, a luxury the public schools do not have,"

Don't get too carried away with that ... every Catholic school I'm familiar with has its share of "special needs", "disadvantaged", etc. students. The difference is not "picking and choosing", but enforcing standards of behaviour.

[ex-snook]

I hope this is not because of the silly season of election politics and will disappear again in December. We have a GOP control of government. A GOP tenet is private enterprise.

We err in describing schools as 'Catholic School'. They should be described as 'private enterprise'. Education costs should be out-sourced from government and privatized if more economical using current government costs as the base.

That a private education enterprise should be discriminated because of Catholic ownership should be challenged. No religious test is applied when government funds are disbursed to law firms, medical practices, or grocery stores.

[gueroloco]

And public schools set embarrassingly low standards as they settle for mediocrity, a "luxury" Catholic schools do not have-Catholic schools choose to have higher standards and that's why these socialists are upset. Parochial schools achieve superior results for less money than do public schools. Having higher standards is not discriminatory, unless of course the student is lazy/unmotivated.

[JohnnyZ]

However, the federal government should not be involved in vouchers, controlling education, or funding it in other forms. This is a reserved power of the states

Are you advocating statehood for Washington, D.C.?

[The_Eaglet]

At this point, I don't really have a preference.

[Jeff Chandler]

while he is busy gutting the secular public school system

That's the thanks he gets for pouring more money into the public schools-the rats just lie about that, too.

[leprechaun9]

A few years ago, the Archdiocese of New York offered to school 1000 of the lowest performing students - OF COURSE, the Bad Apple refused!

[Salvation]

**They should be described as 'private enterprise'. Education costs should be out-sourced from government and privatized if more economical using current government costs as the base.**

Excellent points!