Every Catholic school student has a right to be treated as a child of God, with the love and respect that implies, regardless of family circumstances. In the like manner, the believing community has the right to an education guided by Catholic teaching and identity, unimpeded by pressures contrary to Church teaching.
As a parent/guardian of a student in a Catholic school, I understand, affirm, and support the following:
1.The primary purpose of a Catholic school education is two-fold: to strengthen the Catholic community in its faith, and to form students in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.
2. Catholic schools are distinctive religious education institutions guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church. They are not private schoolsoffering a positive moral code. Rather, they exist to advance the faith mission of the sponsoring Catholic parish(es), Archdiocese, or Catholic community.
3. While Catholic education places a high value on academic excellence and extracurricular achievement, its fundamental priorityis fidelity to the Catholic teaching and identity.
4. Attending a Catholic school is privilege, not a right. The school and its administration have the responsibility to ensure that Catholic teaching and moral integrity permeate every facet of the school's life and activity and that the school is able to function as a community of faith.
5. In all questions that involve Catholic teaching, morals, and Church law, the final determination rests with the Archbishop.