Letters: On the state of Catholic schools

I'M A Catholic-school graduate and parent of a seventh-grade Catholic school student.

With all due respect to Bishop McFadden, I'm tired of the same old song from the archdiocese on declining enrollment and rising costs. My son's grade school was closed in 2006, and he's now attending the closest Catholic elementary school in the neighborhood.

Tuition went from $1,850 in 2006 to $2,800 in 2009. Why did the cost skyrocket, especially when his new school absorbed most of the displaced students?

I'm also tired of hearing how much parents sacrifice to send children to Catholic schools, especially when I don't see the archdiocese lending a hand. I'm a single parent who makes just enough so I can't apply for any aid. Why do neighborhood education committees have to be formed to solicit donations to keep schools open and tuition down? I'm constantly being asked to contribute, which I do because I want my son's school to survive.

The archdiocese has asked members of my parish to contribute to the Heritage of Faith-Vision of Hope campaign. Why am I being asked to contribute to upgrading the cathedral and the seminary? Church attendance is down and few are entering the priesthood.

The church wants to know why Catholics are leaving the flock. One word - greed.

I learned to separate heaven from earth the day the archdiocese said my son's school was closing. I knew in my heart that God did not want that.

Bishop McFadden states, "We're in the Catholic education business, and we're not going out of it." I'm not a genius, but I think merging and closing any Catholic school will only add to the decline of Catholics practicing their faith.

I understand that some of the $75 million pledged for the Heritage campaign will be used for Catholic education, but not all schools will benefit.

I'm already keeping an elementary school afloat. Maybe it's time the archdiocese did the same, for all schools.

Jo Ann Fithian, Philadelphia