Missouri Catholic Conference

Autumn Update


October 18, 2013 

Fall road
Why I Am Signing the Petition
A Special Education Director Speaks Out In Support of the Children's Education Initiative
Debbie Hamler 
As the Director of the Special Learning Center in Jefferson City I am always trying to find ways to better serve children, 
especially children with disabilities. The Children's Education Initiative opens up educational options so parents have more choices for their children.

At the Special Learning Center we believe in looking for ideas that can enhance special education services for children. I believe this tax credit will be a way to help all the children in our community. It is exciting to find a way to revitalize our community commitment to our local schools of all kinds. This will provide financial assistance to elementary and secondary school children in public and nonpublic settings. I believe this is a creative way to fund education and I support this initiative.

Secular Media Starts to Report on CEI 

An Associated Press article by David Lieb reports on how the Catholic Church is backing the Children's Education Initiative (CEI). The article is fair enough in reporting that St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson gave $300,000 to the newly formed campaign committee; however, it is disappointing that the article doesn't get around to mentioning the tax credit benefits available to public schools until late in the piece. The Joplin Globe picked up on the AP story but then went out to the community and asked for people's reactions, which were generally very favorable.

Not Your Typical School Choice Proposal

Building Communities, Educating Children

CEI is substantially different than other school choice proposals that have been advanced in other states, but it will take some time to get that across to the media and others. Most school choice proposals include some modest benefit for public school children, but not to the extent proposed by CEI. Fifty percent of the tax credit benefits provided by CEI are allocated to public schools. A local public school receiving any CEI funds decides how to use the new monies. For example, a district could use the funds to develop a new science or computer lab.

Get Trained, Then Get the Signatures

Some folks are so excited about CEI that they have already begun to collect signatures. We need that kind of enthusiasm but make sure people understand there are some rules to follow. Hopefully, your parish and Catholic school have named a CEI Coordinator. Send the name and contact information of that coordinator to your diocesan coordinator (see list below). Your diocesan coordinator is available to provide guidance and training. Here is their contact information:

   

St. Louis
George Kerry
(314) 792-7568
georgekerry@archstl.org  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jefferson City
Deacon Dan Joyce
(573) 635-9127
djoyce@diojeffcity.org 

 

 

 

 

 

Kansas City/St. Joseph
John Murphy
Home: (816) 361-5222
Work: (816) 729-5222
kellynjohnmurphy@aol.com or john.murphy@breifnemarkets.com 

 

 

 

 

Dan Peters
(816) 714-2344
peters@diocesekcsj.org 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Springfield/Cape Girardeau
Leon Witt
(417) 866-0841
lwitt@dioscg.org

 

  

  

Read the Instructions

The MCC also encourages those wanting to collect signatures for CEI to read the instructions found in the packet already sent to parishes, Catholic schools and Knights of Columbus Councils. Feel free to copy this information and give to others but ensure that you have one person - a parish or school coordinator - who coordinates your signature gathering and ensures that circulators know what they are doing. If you would like a copy of the MCC packet email us. 

Respect Life Program Underway

The annual Respect Life Year began on the First Sunday in October. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has prepared materials for this year's observance. Click here to access these materials.

Farewell George Henry 

The Archdiocese of St. Louis has announced that at the end of this school year George Henry, the superintendent of Catholic Schools, will step down. Mr. Henry toiled in the vineyard of Catholic education for 47 years and has led the St. Louis Catholic Schools since 1995. Mr. Henry worked very closely with the Missouri Catholic Conference for many years and has been a strong champion of ensuring fair treatment of Catholic school children in all educational programs. "Well done, good and faithful servant." 

 

Here is a link to a story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about Henry's retirement.  
In This Issue
1. Why I Am Signing the Petition
2. Secular Media Starts to Report on CEI
3. Not Your Typical School Choice Proposal
4. Get Trained, Then Get the Signatures
5. Read the Instructions
6. Respect Life Program Underway
7. Farewell George Henry

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