Education

“A true education aims at the formation of the human person in the pursuit of his ultimate end, and of the good of the societies of which he is a member and in whose obligations he will share.”

– Pope Paul VI, Gravissimum Educationis

Humans strive for heaven by being part of social communities on earth. Understanding one’s cultural heritage and making contributions to the common good are the responsibilities of any good citizen. Therefore, education is an inalienable human right, insofar as it is the process of preparing children to pursue salvation and contribute to the good of their earthly community.

Parents have the duty of being the primary educators of their kids. Because of this serious responsibility, they have a right to great liberty in shaping the education of their children. While other institutions, including public schools, may share in the responsibility of educating a child, they do so with the implicit permission of a child’s parents, and should never supersede or marginalize parents in the education process.

We support public policies that support the role of Catholic schools and other non-public education institutions in Oregon, and that affirm the rights of all parents to choose schools that best fit the educational needs of their children. We advocate for equitable participation of non-public school students in state and federal education programs.