Peoria bans teachers from
conference
By NCR STAFF
Catholic officials in Peoria, Ill., have barred diocesan educators
from attending a major national Catholic educational meeting because of
objections to its program. Peorias ban is similar to one announced by the
Pittsburgh diocese a month earlier.
The meeting, the annual convocation of the Washington-based
National Catholic Educational Association, draws thousands of Catholic
educators from around the country. In many dioceses, educators are encouraged
to attend and, in the case of parish teachers of religion, some dioceses grant
continuing education credits toward diocesan certification.
This years convocation will be held in Milwaukee April
17-20.
In a memo obtained by NCR, the vicar general of the Peoria
diocese ordered the boycott, saying, Unfortunately, this year we are not
assured that authentic Catholic teaching will be presented throughout the
programs for the convocation.
The vicar general, Msgr. Steven P. Rohlfs, addressed his memo to
principals of Catholic schools, religious education directors and chaplains. It
was dated Dec. 20.
The memo in Peoria, like one sent to Catholic educators in
Pittsburgh a month earlier, cited no specific objections to the program, and
Rohlfs, at press time, had not responded to an inquiry from NCR. Rohlfs
said in his memo that the diocesan directive originated with Bishop John J.
Myers.
In the case of Pittsburgh, NCR learned that the boycott had
been prompted by a scheduled talk by Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister. A noted
speaker and writer who supports womens ordination, Chittister is among
featured speakers. The convocation also includes some 400 sessions for
educators at all levels, from elementary to seminary.
The memo in Pittsburgh was signed by Fr. Kris D. Stubna, who said
he was acting with the approval of Bishop Donald D. Wuerl.
Four points in the memo from Peoria were nearly identical to one
distributed in Pittsburgh. In both dioceses, officials are prohibiting staff
from attending the convocation, prohibiting diocesan, parish or school funds
from being used to pay expenses related to the meeting, and prohibiting any
member of the diocese from gaining education credits from participation in the
convocation.
Claire Helm, vice president of operations for the educational
association, said she assumes that Peoria officials, like those in Pittsburgh,
were objecting to Chittisters talk. Im assuming , but I
dont really know, she said. I know of no other speaker or
topic thats generated that reaction.
Helm said registration for this years convocation
looks pretty strong. Further, she said, the association had
received considerable support for its decision to keep Chittister on the
program.
Weve received a steady stream of letters and e-mails
from people concerned about those objections to her presence and expressing the
hope that she would remain on the program, Helm said. She said she found
the assertion that Chittister does not represent church teaching to be
troubling.
The fact of the matter is, we would never invite someone to
speak who we felt was not faithful to church teaching, she said.
Chittister said her reaction to Peorias move is similar to
her reaction to Pittsburghs ban: that it violates the tradition of
Catholic education.
This is an unfortunate but an important situation, she
said. Its not about me. Its about the attitude, our attitude
as a church, toward thinking, ideas, and development of a mature
faith.
The convocation is an educational arena. If ideas cant
be examined there, and we dont trust our teachers to do that, let alone
our administrators, where shall it be done, and what will that say to the rest
of the world about the considered value of Catholic thought?
National Catholic Reporter, January 26,
2001
|