“We are all disgusted and we are so embarrassed by our Catholic diocese right now,” said Michele Smits of Rochester, whose two daughters attend Holy Cross School in Charlotte. Democrat and Chronicle, 2/13

The diocesan decision to close 13 Catholic schools in Monroe County would make a perfect case study in the art of antagonization and alienation.

First the diocese decided to shutter 13 schools with very limited parental input. Then they raised false hopes after the plan was made public by giving the impression that alternative plans would be considered. Finally they dashed those hopes by flat out refusing to to modify the original plan even though many of the schools had come up with viable alternatives. The diocesan obstinance was so rigid that even Father Wheeland of Holy Cross went public with his frustration.

This clumsy school closing process has been an eye opener for many who have never before encountered the diocesan monolith. Many of those who have gone through parish clustering had already been educated on the sometimes callous and deceptive nature of diocesan committees.

The usual format involves a decision making process that is cloistered in secrecy. Once the plan is made public then parishioners are allowed to have input in the belief that the plan can be modified. The clustering committees then go through the charade of considering the input from the average person in the pew. The committee then rejects the proposed modifications and ratifies the original plan. Oftentimes it is later discovered that the plan was preconceived months or even years in advance.

This is how government bureaucracies operate. Faithful Catholics deserve better.

2/11/08