Editorial

With all the news about the war against terrorism and economic woes, the recent signing into law of a new national education law did not get much attention.

President George W. Bush promised that education reform would be his first priority. True to his word, the president, with bipartisan support, pushed for passage of a comprehensive law called the "Leave No Child Behind Act."

Step in right direction. The act is an important step in the right direction for education policy, but much remains to be done to reach the goal of access to quality education for all of our nation's children.

That's a view shared by Michael J. Guerra, president of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), which represents 200,000 educators serving 7.6 million students in Catholic education at all levels.

"The new legislation signals a return to the original concept of the landmark 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act with its emphasis on benefits for children and its continued insistence that public educational agencies provide services to eligible Catholic and other private and religious schools," observed Guerra.

The government plans to spend almost $30 billion to carry out the programs called for in the new law. Money will go towards helping disadvantaged children meet high standards, improving teacher quality, strengthening skills, and enhancing education through technology. The legislation also fosters greater control and flexibility at the state and local levels on how to spend some of the funds.

Falls short on school choice. On the issue of school choice, however, the new law falls short. While there is some progress, it is a disappointment to Catholic educators, Guerra noted.

There is little support provided for low income parents whose children are trapped in failing public schools. One provision does offer poor parents the opportunity to obtain financial support for after-school tutoring which includes religious organizations -- only after their children have spent three years in a designated "failing school."

How ironic that would be! A student having problems in a public school could be tutored only after school in a church-related program.

I agree with Michael Guerra who says, "We cannot forget that the children of the poor are our children, too. Giving their parents the power to choose their schools is the right thing for us to do as a nation."

We will not have a truly successful educational system until all parents have an equal opportunity to send their children to the school of their choice -- be it public, private, or parochial. We must keep pushing for school choice for all students with new initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To the editor:

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

For several months, Bishop Bullock has led a monthly holy hour for the priests of the Diocese of Madison with the specific prayer intention of praying for church vocations. If this prayer intention has the priority of the priests of our diocese, shouldn't we as lay people have the same priority?

With the season of Lent now here, we are all instructed to have increased prayer, fasting, and alms giving as our Lenten work.

We in Janesville are fortunate to have two parishes which provide us with Eucharistic Adoration on a weekly basis: St. William all day on Tuesday and St. Patrick all day on Thursday.

Wouldn't it be a good idea if we would spend an hour a week in prayer for vocations? Those of us who have been doing this for some time since Eucharistic Adoration started in our parishes have found it to be the best type of prayer for our spiritual life after the Mass.

Let more of us lay Catholics give it a try. You know the saying: Try it -- you might like it.

Mary M. Hefferan, Janesville

Appreciate Peter's Pence contribution

To Bishop Bullock:

With sincere gratitude I wish to acknowledge receipt of the check in the amount of $40,432.41, representing the Peter's Pence contribution from the Church in Madison for 2001, which you had forwarded to the Apostolic Nunciature.

As I assure you that this sum will be duly transmitted to the Secretariat of State on your behalf, permit me to offer an initial word of appreciation in the name of the Holy Father for this valuable assistance. In addition to sharing in the material responsibilities facing Pope John Paul II, this expression of generosity by your people reveals their deep awareness of the bonds of faith, worship and love which they share with the Universal Church and God's people, especially the poor, throughout the world.

May God, who is infinitely generous, reward you and continue to bless you and the faithful under your pastoral care.

With warm regards, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Archbishop Gabriel Montaluo, Apostolic Nuncio
Washington, D.C.

U.S. resembles Roman Empire

To the editor:

The Roman Empire emphasized individual values based on expanding personal freedoms. The government allowed sexual perversion, gambling, and sport at the Coliseum, including bloody chariot races and feeding the Christians to the lions. Baby girls were not valued at birth. The elderly and the unhealthy often found an early death. The more God was removed from the Roman society, the faster the demise of their society.

I see a little of Rome building in the U.S.A.: 38 million babies aborted since Roe v. Wade; our cruel sports of boxing, rodeo, and football; casinos taking aim at some of the weakest in our society; our priests and ministers not willing to teach us better values to cope with a less God-fearing nation; the rich unwilling to share their wealth with anyone.

We do have a great president right now. We can turn things around. A great starting point would be to reverse Roe v. Wade.

Hal Joyce, Waunakee