Day: September 22, 2011

Fr. Pavone wants to free-lance?

The Fr. Pavone business has been long coming? And a lost cause for him, even if the bishop was inexact in his announcement?

Especially in light of [presumed] behind-the-scenes negotiations, and the consultations that must have taken place, it is unfortunate that [Amarillo’s] Bishop Zurek sloppily used the word suspend in the public announcement of his decision. Father Pavone was not suspended; he remains a priest in good standing. He was summoned to serve the Church in the diocese where he is incardinated. There is no question that the bishop has the authority to restrict a priests ministry in this way. Although Father Pavone has announced a canonical appeal, it is difficult to imagine how he could prevail.

Yes indeed on the “suspend” matter, which naturally became the lede for the Amarillo newspaper story. Unfortunately.

There’s much more, from Phil Lawler.

Black-white gap at Oak Park & River Forest

Customary hand-wringing at Oak Park & River Forest High about blacks’ low achievement, plummeting in recent years at yet higher rates. Hopeful sign, however, as a board member very carefully sounds a different note:

Board member Terry Finnegan countered that, while raising minority scores is and should be a priority for the school, teachers and the administration can only do so much.

I dont want to lay it all on the school, Finnegan said. Every day is a 24-hour period of which the school does not control the entire day. While we have to be leading in the education of our kids, its not the only factor involved.

Meanwhile, never any talk of dismantling the current race-based programs, unconstitutional on their face and failures on the record.