Dear CV Friend,
Many public schools are refusing to open back up.
Because open or closed, they get paid, and their schools survive.
But Catholic schools are
facing an existential threat. If Catholic schools don’t open up this fall, many could close for good.
CV Senior Political Advisor and former congressman Tim Huelskamp sounded the alarm this week in the Washington
Examiner:
“Catholic schools in America comprise the largest parochial school system in the world.
They have been in existence even before our nation’s founding. They have built an unparalleled legacy of academic excellence, promoted racial
and ethnic integration, and made the American dream possible for so many whose opportunities were otherwise limited. These cherished institutions are
facing extinction very soon….
"If they are prohibited from resuming in-person classes in the fall, many Catholic schools may never reopen
again. So many can barely make it now. In addition to losing support from Sunday parish collections, which have slowed to a trickle thanks to the
coronavirus pandemic, these schools would lose another critical source of revenue: tuition.”
Tim’s right. Throughout our nation’s history, Catholic schools have
provided a counterweight to the government-run school system. Catholic schools have done heroic work in educating children of every race and income --
often at less than half the cost of public schools. Most importantly, our Catholic schools have taught the Faith (well, most of them anyway).
According to the Alliance for Catholic Education, more than 130 Catholic schools across 23 states have already closed their doors due to the pandemic.
The organization predicts the number will only rise as more parents decide they can no longer afford tuition.
We cannot allow Catholic schools
to collapse on our watch.
President Trump has promised help. Now we need Congress to step up to the plate and ensure Catholic families
are able to afford tuition this year.
The U.S. Bishops are
supporting the School Choice Act, which would provide emergency funding in the COVID relief bill to organizations giving scholarships to Catholic
school students. Their plan has the backing of the Trump administration already. The only thing standing in the way are congressional Democrats.
President Trump has been even bolder. "If schools do not reopen, the funding should go to parents to send their child to public, private,
charter, religious, or home school of their choice," Trump said last week.
I encourage all of you to read Tim’s entire article, and to share it with your friends
and family.
Brian
P.S. I’m very proud to have Congressman Tim
Huelskamp on board the CatholicVote team as a Senior Advisor. He’s been instrumental in helping CV develop the largest Catholic voter outreach
program in history. As a proud Catholic father of four adopted children, Tim understands exactly what’s at stake this year.
Your continued support of CatholicVote makes all of this
possible.
P.P.S. You can read this message on our website as well:
https://catholicvote.org/catholic-schools-are-facing-extinction/
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