“… Families and those to whom they entrust a share in their educational responsibilities must enjoy true liberty about how their children are to be educated.”
– Blessed John Paul II, Letter to Families (1994)
The majority of parents share this responsibility, out of necessity or choice, with other individuals or institutions. This reality must be balanced with their fundamental rights as parents. Therefore, in Catholic teaching a State or “public” monopoly of education is unjust.
In matters of education, the Catholic teaching of subsidiarity is the basis of relations between families, the Church, and the State.
We support public policies that acknowledge and support the role of Catholic schools and other non-public education institutions in Minnesota that affirm the rights of all parents to choose schools that best fit the educational needs of their children, and advocate for equitable participation of non-public school students in state and federal education programs.
Every Parent, Every Child – A Pastoral Statement on Educational Choice by the Minnesota Bishops
Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millenium – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Accountability and Assessment in Catholic Education – A Statement by the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA)