USCCB Letter to Leaders in Congress on Catholic School Aid (2020)

USCCB Letter to Leaders in Congress on Catholic School Aid, August 5, 2020

Thank you for your leadership during this unprecedented, challenging time. We are tremendously grateful for the aid that has been provided thus far to help sustain our country during this pandemic. 

As you come together to consider additional aid to help Americans through the crisis, we implore you to ensure that the education needs of all children are met, including children in Catholic and other nonpublic schools. 

For nearly two centuries, Catholic schools have provided an enormous public benefit by educating Americans from every walk of life, from diverse religious backgrounds, from every income class, and especially from poor and immigrant communities. For countless Americans, a Catholic education has been, and continues to be, the surest path from poverty to the middle class.

The economic devastation that has hit so many of America’s families has made it impossible for many struggling families to continue paying tuition. As a result, already 140 Catholic schools have permanently closed their doors, and hundreds more are in danger of being unable to open in the fall. The closure of schools that serve urban areas are disproportionately harmful to low-income and black children served by these schools.

Cardinals-USCCB-Letter-to-Leadership-on-School-Aid-8-5-20_0.pdf