Involving community:
Is how it should work in Madison

	Guest Commentary  Bob McKee

It seems the conversation about the Madison School Board's decision to eliminate busing for all Catholic school students was finished before it ever got started - that it's always been a done deal.

In order to save $230,000, the district this spring decided that it no longer will use yellow buses to fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide Catholic school students with safe transportation to and from school. Instead, the district wants to exercise an option under state law and pay parents $453 per child to cover transportation costs.

Expressing concerns

Since hearing about the district's plan, parents and other community members expressed to the board such concerns as that many of the 358 affected students rely on buses to get to and from school. As with some public school students, it might not be possible for some of these Catholic school students to be driven to school by their parents because of work schedules or because the family doesn't own a car.

Furthermore, we expressed to the board that the $453 per student the district wants to spend likely won't cover the full cost of a ride for an entire school year (approximately 175 days). It would then be up to the parents of these children to foot the rest of the bill, which might not be feasible for some.

Lack of response

Despite the many phone calls and e-mails, we really didn't see much interest by the board to discuss the issue.

Wanting to ensure that the board heard our concerns, we attended its June 4 regular meeting. In all, 37 people expressed concerns and collectively requested board members to at least re-open the issue so that together we can explore options for providing a ride to and from school for all students who need it, while looking for ways to reduce the district's busing costs.

But after the crowd spoke, President Arlene Silveira sent the message home that the busing issue isn't a topic the board wants to discuss.

She matter-of-factly said the board is sticking to its plan to spend $453 on transportation for each Catholic school student, but District Superintendent Art Rainwater would be willing to work with the Catholic schools to reduce their busing costs.

Budget problems

And Silveira expressed no interest in the board re-opening the busing issue so the district and Catholic schools could explore alternatives: "With the case of delaying this for one year, we cannot do that budget-wise. If we do that we will have to find some other area to cut the 200-plus thousand dollars, which would mean re-opening this for reconsideration and making further budget cuts. That is very unlikely to happen at this point in time. . . . So that's basically how it works here."

Board members have found ways to avoid such money-saving cuts recommended by Superintendent Rainwater as consolidating Lapham and Marquette elementary schools, which would have saved $201,000.

Still hopeful

Despite Silveira's doubt, we are still hopeful the board will give the district's obligation to provide safe transportation to and from school for all students the same priority that was given to ensuring students in the Marquette neighborhood have the convenience of a neighborhood school.

Furthermore, we hope board members will see the importance of working with a part of the community that will be impacted by its decisions.

That's how it should work here.

Bob McKee is a Madison resident and a parent of a Catholic school student.

Can Catholics be feminists?
Pope John Paul II's answer

	Guest Commentary  Marcella Colbert

Is it tolerable to be both an orthodox Catholic and a "feminist"? Pope John Paul II explicitly called women to "promote a 'new feminism' . . . in order to acknowledge and affirm the true genius of women in every aspect of the life of society, and overcome all discrimination, violence, and exploitation," (Evangelium Vitae, no. 99).

Indeed, orthodox Catholic faith makes an authentic feminism not only possible, but also compulsory.

Two impulses

Catholic new-feminist and author Cat Clark notes that historically, feminism has had two essential and universal impulses. First, feminism has defended the legitimate and express desire of women to participate in all areas of social, political, economic, and cultural life, and not allow women to be restricted to the so-called "private realm."

Second, traditional feminism recognizes and condemns discrimination, segregation, double standards, domination, and violence against women and their personal dignity.

The New Feminism

The New Feminism accepts these claims of what it means to defend womanhood, but expounds on them. The titles of John Paul II's various homilies on the New Feminism illustrate this:

Women as Teachers of Peace; Women Have Much to Offer in Political Life; Culture of Equality Urgently Needed; Mission of Motherhood; Society and Church Need the Genius of Women; History Needs to Include Women's Contributions; Culture Needs Women's Genius; Equal Opportunity Still Urgently Needed;

The Media, Modern Forum for Promoting the Role of Women in Society; Woman as Masterpiece of God's Creation; Confession of Sins and Asking for Forgiveness.

It is no wonder he called himself "Il Papa Feminista" (The Feminist Pope).

Women's key role

Pope John Paul II's Angelus reflection of July 23, 1995, "The Feminine Genius," encourages the participation of women in all areas of public and private life. He says, "It is a 'sign of the times' that woman's role is increasingly recognized, not only in the family circle, but also in the wider context of all social activities.

"Without the contribution of women, society is less alive, culture impoverished, and peace less stable. Situations where women are prevented from developing their full potential and from offering the wealth of their gifts should therefore be considered profoundly unjust, not only to women themselves but to society as a whole . . .

"It is necessary to strive convincingly to ensure that the widest possible space is open to women in all areas of culture, economics, politics, and ecclesial life itself, so that human society is increasingly enriched by the gifts proper to masculinity and femininity."

In his Angelus reflection of June 18 1995, "Culture Must Respect Femininity," John Paul II speaks in opposition of all forms of injustice against women.

In his "Letter to Women," John Paul II says, "I cannot fail to express my admiration for those women of good will who have devoted their lives to defending the dignity of womanhood by fighting for their basic social, economic, and political rights, demonstrating courageous initiative at a time when this was considered extremely inappropriate, the sign of a lack of femininity, a manifestation of exhibitionism, and even a sin!"

'Journey must go on'

Both women and men have made genuine mistakes in the difficult and complicated process of "women's liberation." For instance, the promotion of abortion and contraception in our culture has both exploited and harmed women. John Paul II's New Feminism actively encourages Catholic feminists to correct the mistakes of the past and keep moving forward. In his "Letter to Women," John Paul II exhorts, "This journey must go on!"

Inspired by these words, we must promote the dignity and genius of women "through an effective and intelligent campaign." Groups such as Feminists for Life, based in Washington, D.C., promote the slogan, "Women Deserve Better," better then abortion, contraception, and having to choose between having a career or a family.

Endow is a group whose mission is "To educate women towards a deeper, more profound understanding of their God-given dignity and vocation as women" via small group study and discussion of the Church's New Feminism documents. Under the guidance of Pope John Paul II, it has become true that to be truly Catholic one must be a feminist.

The New Feminism acknowledges women as the "Masterpiece of God's Creation" and exhorts women to "be not afraid" to enter and engage the culture, media, political life, Church life, and all aspects of social life.

Upcoming retreat

Along these lines, the Diocese of Madison is hosting a women's retreat with the theme, "The Inner Beauty of Women." We will be reflecting on topics such as what it means to be a women, who was Mary and what can we learn from her, and what is our dignity and vocation as women. All women in the diocese are invited to attend.

The retreat will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center. Speakers are Sr. Marcia Vinje, Christine Galvin, and Marcella Colbert. Cost is $80 for those staying overnight and $45 for commuters.

To register, go to www.madisoncatholic.org/oec/ For more information, contact Monica Grant at 608-821-3160.

Every women's life, whether she is conscious of it or not, is a defining feature of not only femininity, but also humanity. Women, because we are persons, all have a bottomless craving for union with God; our ultimate fulfillment is in the God who is love.

Marcella Colbert is director of young adult ministry for the downtown Madison Catholic parishes.

The Church: Speaks for God, teaches the truth

		A Culture  of Life  Christopher West

Does the Church actually believe she speaks for God and knows "the truth"? That's so arrogant!

Yes, the Church actually believes she speaks for God and has been granted by Christ a share in his own infallibility.

That's an amazingly bold claim with which we all must seriously reckon. We can draw only one of two conclusions: Either the Church is extremely arrogant - or, just maybe, she's right.

In the end, there's no middle ground. If the Church is right, then we will see her as a great blessing from God, and we will want to conform our lives to what she teaches.

Even when we may not understand a certain why behind a teaching, we will trust that it will come to light in due time.

On the other hand, if the Church is extremely arrogant, then we should not even want to be associated with the name Catholic.

We live in a culture that rejects objective truth. "That may be true for you, but not for me," people say. Or, "Anybody's opinion is just as valid as anyone else's." We've all been affected by these attitudes.

But Jesus taught something very different. He taught that he is the truth (see Jn 14:6), and he established a Church that he promised would teach the truth (see Jn 16:13). He calls us to accept that. We are free not to accept it. But it's a terribly weighty decision that we dare not take lightly.

How can the Church claim to teach without error? History shows that the Church has made lots of mistakes and done some horrible things. What about Galileo, the Crusades, and the Inquisition?

In 2000, John Paul II publicly sought God's mercy and forgiveness for the past sins committed by members of the Church.

As this gesture so clearly indicates, the Church doesn't claim that all her members and leaders throughout history have never spoken in error or never made mistakes. The charism that protects the Church from error applies to her definitive teachings on matters of faith and morals.

Certainly members of the Church, including some priests, bishops, and popes, have not always lived according to the teachings of their own faith. They have made mistakes. At times, terrible things have been done in the name of "the Church."

This is scandalous and can weaken people's faith in the Church. Yet the fact that the Church has endured so much corruption and is still standing after 2,000 years also bears testimony to Christ's words when he founded the Church upon Peter: "The powers of death shall not prevail against [the Church]" (Mt 16:18).

Why has there been corruption in the Church? First of all because the Church is made up of people such as you and me. As the saying goes, the Church is not a "hotel for saints," it's a "hospital for sinners."

Yes, we're all called to be saints, but we don't reach perfection in this life. Meanwhile, as Christ said, both wheat and weeds will be growing in the Church until the harvest (see Mt 13:24-30).

But the good news is this: even when individual members of the Church have been unfaithful, even when in certain times of history the weeds have seemed more plentiful than the wheat, Christ has never abandoned his Bride.

While members of the Church have made mistakes, the Church has never erred in those teachings on faith and morals that she has proclaimed in a definitive manner, and she never will. This is God's own promise.

Christopher West is a research fellow and faculty member of the Theology of the Body Institute in Pennsylvania. His column is syndicated by www.OneMoreSoul.com and reprinted from his book Good News About Sex and Marriage (St. Anthony Messenger Press).