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Thursday, February 9, 2012

W. Catholic HS president resigns

A bit of Catholic school news...

Brother Timothy Ahern, president of West Philadelphia Catholic, has resigned his post effective immediately, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said in a statement Thursday.

West Catholic is one of the schools the Archdiocese has ordered to close at the end of the year. Brother Tim, a West Catholic alumnus, decided not to appeal the decision.  He said he did not want to raise false hopes by appealing.

"His decision, which was based on facts related to future enrollment projections, was made with a heavy heart," the Archdiocese statement said.  The decision "created an untenable atmosphere for Brother Tim throughout the school."

Brother Tim was a West Catholic student from 1962 through 1966 and a teacher from 1971 through 1979.

Thomas Rooney, the Archdiocese Assistant Superintendent of Schools, will serve as interim president for the remainder of the year.

Archdiocese leaders said that Brother Tim deserves part of the credit for the school remaining open as long as it has.

"I was deeply saddened to learn of Brother Tim's resignation," Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic education for the Archdiocese, said in the statement. "He loves West Catholic with all of his heart. His care for each and every member of the school community was evident in the devotion and dedication he put into his work."

The school's enrollment has sharply declined in the past decade, and its expenses outstrip its ability to raise funds.  West Catholic currently enrolls 360 students, and uses less than a third of its building capacity.
Posted by Kristen Graham @ 4:59 PM  Permalink | 29 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:22 PM, 02/09/2012
    west Catholic was 90% Non Catholics why should alumni and Catholic Parishes subsidize Non Catholics
    — Kevinmac
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:03 PM, 02/09/2012
    From the "Brothers and Sisters to Us" aka The US Bishops statement on Racism

    ..."Finally, we urgently recommend the continuation and expansion of Catholic schools in the inner cities and other disadvantaged areas. No other form of Christian ministry has been more widely acclaimed or desperately sought by leaders of various racial communities. For a century and a half the Church in the United States has been distinguished by its efforts to educate the poor and disadvantaged, many of whom are not of the Catholic faith. That tradition continues today in - among other places - Catholic schools, where so many blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asians receive a form of education and formation which constitutes a key to greater freedom and dignity. It would be tragic if today, in the face of acute need and even near despair, the Church, for centuries the teacher and the guardian of civilization, should withdraw from this work in our own society. No sacrifice can be so great, no price can be so high, no short-range goals can be so important as to warrant the lessening of our commitment to Catholic education in minority neighborhoods. More affluent parishes should be made aware of this need and of their opportunity to share resources with the poor and needy in a way that recognizes the dignity of both giver and receiver."

    http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/african-american/brothers-and-sisters-to-us.cfm
    — frederickpratt
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:20 PM, 02/09/2012
    Catholics come home - we are one billion strong (so they say, and the Catholic church is paying for the ads.) People are tired of having a bunch of old men tell women what to do with their sex lives, the guilt, the obsession to be perfect (you can never be perfect, but you can be a fanatic on cleanliness, house has to be perfect, a neurotic for things in the right place), never without guilt, and your way is the only way. As Catholics realize the psychological drama they are forced to live, they do not have to live a life of Guilt - they realize they are not coming home - they are Motherhood, and no one is going to become between them, their kids, and their family. The walls are crumbling with more and more churches, hospitals and schools closing - freedom at last from strangled tyranny - and Christ has shown the way.
    — Bob Washick
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:22 PM, 02/09/2012
    Kevininmac -- BECAUSE we're Catholic. That's why. We don't help because they're Catholic; we help people because WE'RE Catholic.
    — TheMasu
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:29 PM, 02/09/2012
    Why should taxpayers support the Church?
    — BarbaraM
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:09 PM, 02/09/2012
    BarbaraM - how are the taxpayers supporting the church? That makes no sense. Catholic schools SAVE the taxpayers money!! Its been millions over the years.
    — kriprodia12
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:12 PM, 02/09/2012
    • Nationwide, taxpayers save $19.8 billion because of Catholic schools.

    — kriprodia12
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:30 PM, 02/09/2012
    Well stated, TheMasu! Bob, I am clueless as to your point. Guilt is a healthy response to one's violation of morality. An un-guilty conscience is a dead one.
    — Manor2009
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:27 PM, 02/09/2012
    Yes, Manor2009, you are indeed clueless!
    — ELM
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:30 PM, 02/09/2012
    Well stated, TheMasu! Bob, I am clueless as to your point. Guilt is a healthy response to one's violation of morality. An un-guilty conscience is a dead one.
    — Manor2009
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:40 PM, 02/09/2012
    TheMasu is correct.
    — anon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:42 PM, 02/09/2012
    Quitter?
    — Timmy Huey
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:06 PM, 02/09/2012
    brother tim is the man. was one of my favorite teachers in hs. hope he keeps chuggin.
    — Zero
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:25 PM, 02/09/2012
    Just don't understand why he couldn't stay to the end....aka ...the Capt going down with with the ship.....very sad....the state of this city....the state of this country....never went there but met many alum...great people...great school.....I'll say a prayer!
    — ghostmarine
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:37 PM, 02/09/2012
    I am catholic and African-american, raised by poor working class parents who were not high school graduates, but recognized and valued the importance of a good education. My catholic school education changed the trajectory of my life: St.Gregory's, West Catholic and Villanova lifted me and also taught to lift while you climb. These are sad days for our community.
    — kimmommy


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About Kristen Graham
Kristen Graham has covered the Philadelphia School District since May 2008. A native Philadelphian – and a graduate of the district and Temple University – she has written about everything from crime and county government to education since joining the Inquirer in 2000. Kristen, who also spent time as an online producer at Philly.com, has won multiple journalism prizes and if asked politely will sing as much of “Hail Northeast,” her high school’s alma mater, as she remembers. She comes from a family of teachers and believes there is no more difficult or important job than that of an educator.

During the school year, you’ll find Kristen chatting live on Philly.com most Mondays at noon or 4 p.m. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.

You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.

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