Redford Catholic school to reopen

Yesterday I posted an article from the Detroit Free Press about Bishop Borgess school reopening as Covenant Schools. This is from the Detroit News story:

REDFORD TOWNSHIP -- The reopening of the former Bishop Borgess school is a bright note for a community that's lost several Catholic institutions, residents and school officials said.

School officials announced Tuesday that the facility will reopen this fall as Covenant Schools, a Christian-based, tuition-funded elementary and high school. The first day of school will be Aug. 24, said the principal, Sister Joan Charnley.

"We hope we could be a beacon of stability here," Charnley said. "Our intentions are not to pull out, and if we have the support and backing of individuals, we can continue. Our parents and students wanted Borgess to continue and we can do that under another name."

"Our parents and students wanted Borgess to continue and we can do that under another name."

That just blows me away. The implication of what Sister Joan is saying is that the Catholic identity and mission of a school is not important. Apparently, the only thing that is important is that she has a job there, regardless of the school's religious affiliation.

In this region, at one time the IHM Sisters offered a solid Catholic education. However, since the late 1960's,they seem to have strayed from their educational mission toward a focus on environmental and 'social justice' issues. It would be fair to note that not all IHM sisters are that way or agree with the order’s ruling elite, especially when it comes to the Gaia type of spirituality of many members.

Here is a sample of the IHM Sister's spirituality:

Taken from Reconciling With the Land: A Lenten Reflection on the IHM website:

Recently, the members of the Earth Charter Committee decided to place a representative symbol of this community in their prayer corners. It is amazing how the presence of a giraffe, a turtle or a frog next to a candle or icon helps bring a deeper consciousness to our prayer. God is in us and in all. If we are polluting or wasting water, if we help destroy needed habitats by our demands for particular products, if we carelessly dispose of recyclable materials, our relationship to the earth community needs healing.

uh-huh

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