CHARLOTTE — Bishop Michael Martin weighed into a debate over recent changes at Charlotte Catholic High School this week, praising the school’s quality and expressing confidence in its direction, but also sharing that he has asked for a “pause” to allow more time for reflection.
Bishop Martin, who has a 30-year history in Catholic education, was at the high school to give a special presentation to parents, “Parenting a Holy Family When You Aren’t the Holy Family.”
After his talk, he took questions from the audience – including one from a parent who asked if people with concerns about the school “are being heard.”
Bishop Michael Martin spoke to parents about the mission of Catholic schools during a Q&A with parents following a talk he gave on how parents can teach the faith at home. Some parents have expressed concerns about changes in Charlotte Catholic’s accreditation, curriculum and leadership. The bishop expressed support for the identity and direction of the school but also called for more reflection and discussion within the school community. (Christina Lee Knauss, Catholic News Herald)The question relates to changes in Charlotte Catholic’s accreditation, curriculum and leadership this school year, which some parents have applauded while others see as an overemphasis on tradition and religiosity at the school. This debate contributed to the resignation in February of first-year Charlotte Catholic principal Lori Phillips, and reflects a similar conversation going on in the Church more broadly.
“I hear you,” the bishop told the audience of 170 people who turned out for his presentation on parenting. He then offered a lengthy explanation about the mission of Catholic schools and the excellence – and opportunities – he sees at Charlotte Catholic. With nearly 1,400 students, it’s the largest of the diocese’s 20 schools and the first place the bishop visited last April, on the day Pope Francis appointed him bishop.
“Charlotte Catholic is an excellent academic institution. I think it’s doing wonderful things,” said Bishop Martin, a former student, teacher, coach, principal and president of Catholic schools. “Do I think it has room for growth? Absolutely – as does every other institution in the Catholic Church.”
One thing that won’t change, he said, is the mission of the school: “Our Catholic schools, first and foremost, are here to breed, to help form, and grow disciples of Jesus Christ in the Church – that’s our primary, number one, unchanging, without-a-doubt mission.”
While people may not agree on “what that looks like,” the bishop said, the school community must be open, listen to one another, talk through issues – and not expect democratic rule. Some parents have resorted to online petitions and anonymous complaints in the media to raise their concerns.
He pledged school officials will do more: “We'll do a better job at communicating the mission. We'll do a better job at communicating the choices that we make…We'll do a better job of engaging parents and listening. We'll do all that better. We've got a lot of ways to grow.”
At the same time, he said, “We're not here as a school that responds to public demand – that’s the public school system. Our mission is different, and it’s my responsibility as the local bishop to articulate what that mission is and then to hire qualified people to carry that out.”
He expressed confidence in Catholic Schools Superintendent Greg Monroe and Charlotte Catholic's former President Kurt Telford, who was recently named Head of School to also serve as principal in the wake of Phillips’ resignation.
A well-informed vision, the bishop said, takes time to develop – so he’s asking parents and school leaders alike to “take a bit of a pause.” He has invested hours in talking with teachers, parents and students, and answering calls and more than 200 letters and emails.
“We’re not doing anything. We’re not changing anything. We are taking some time here at Charlotte Catholic, we’re taking some time to let the dust settle and then we’ll go from there.”
“I’ll continue to ask for God’s guidance and pray for that and to listen to all of you,” he said.
At the same time, he said, the school cannot manage by “taking a head count” or seeking “mass appeal.”
He drew a parallel between the challenges parents face in teaching children about God at home – the subject of his presentation – with those the school faces in imparting the faith to nearly 1,400 students from families of diverse backgrounds, expectations and perspectives.
While the diocese’s schools are open to everyone, Bishop Martin explained, it is important to maintain a clear Catholic identity and an unwavering commitment to making disciples. He acknowledged some parents may not agree with this focus and might want to consider a school that better aligns with their expectations.
“Our purpose is to form disciples of Jesus Christ in the Church,” he said, “and if that’s not what you’re looking for…this might not be the school for you.”
The diocese’s schools have seen record enrollment in recent years – topping 8,300 students this year. With strong academics in place, they also have increased focus on enhancing their Catholic identity since the arrival of Monroe as superintendent and appointment of Father Timothy Reid as vicar of education in 2020.
Last July, the diocese’s schools switched accrediting bodies after determining that Lumen Accreditation, offered by The Catholic University of America, would more seamlessly integrate the evaluation of the schools’ academic programs and their religious training and character formation. Charlotte Catholic did not communicate the change to parents at the time and has apologized for the lack of clarity, which occurred during the transition in leadership last summer.
Since January, when Charlotte Catholic announced the accreditation change, diocesan school leaders have emphasized that the new partnership with Lumen and The Catholic University of America is a natural match for Catholic schools. Lumen continues to demand rigorous academic standards, they say, along with its thorough evaluation of the schools’ Catholic identity and teachings. The Catholic University of America is the only pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States, and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops.
School officials report they have seen no impact on students’ college acceptances based on Charlotte Catholic’s accreditation change.
The bishop invited the school community to continue sharing their hopes for Charlotte Catholic and reiterated his pledge to stay focused on its mission.
“We’re not going to change the mission,” he said.
“Jesus gave it on the day He ascended into heaven…‘Go teach the nations, bring to the nations the Good News, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. That’s the mission of the Catholic Church and all of our entities.”
— Liz Chandler