WOF 498: How to Strengthen Catholic Identity in Catholic Schools

The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

Brandon Vogt

God, Vogt, Catholicism, Catholic, Faith, Christianity, Barron, Religion & Spirituality, Christian, Church

4.9 • 5.5K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If Catholic schools are already Catholic, why would they need to become more so? The unfortunate reality, however, is that some Catholic educational institutions are not living up to their name. As some frustrated parents, priests, and even teachers who are afraid of losing their jobs for being “too Catholic” around their colleagues know well, some schools actively promote values that contradict Church teachings. What has led to Catholic education in some instances to deviate from its mission? And what, more importantly, can we do about it?

A listener asks how to love God if God is love.

Links:

Bishop Barron interview on The Tucker Carlson Show: https://youtu.be/SUedSE78Mo0?si=hokxzcll3kQwZIR4
Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to the Word on Fire show. I'm Matthew Petrusik, Senior Director of the Word
0:04.6	on Fire Institute and the host of the Word on Fire show. Thank you for joining us. The title of
0:09.2	this episode, How to Strengthen Catholic Identity in Catholic Schools, may seem a bit confusing.
0:15.0	If Catholic schools are already Catholic, why would they need to become more so? The unfortunate reality, however,
0:22.1	is that some Catholic educational institutions are not living up to their name. As some frustrated
0:27.9	parents, priests, and even teachers who are afraid of losing their jobs for being too Catholic
0:33.3	around their colleagues know well, a significant number of Catholic schools not only let down the church by omission,
0:40.6	failing to embrace and promote a vigorously Catholic identity, but also in some cases, commission.
0:46.3	That is, they actively promote values that contradict church teachings.
0:50.7	This problem certainly affects Catholic higher education.
0:58.0	I used to teach in a Catholic university, for example, that permitted an on-campus fundraiser for the abortion giant and trans drug provider Planned Parenthood.
1:03.0	However, it's also an issue in some diocesan K through 12 schools as well, which has led some parents
1:10.0	to homeschool their children rather than send them to their local Catholic school.
1:13.6	Other parents have even founded entire school systems like the Chesterton Academy that operate independently of their diocese.
1:21.6	What has led to Catholic education in some instances to deviate from its mission?
1:26.6	And what, more importantly, can we do about it?
1:30.2	Here to help us think through these questions and to offer some practical advice on how
1:33.6	to strengthen Catholic identity in our schools is Bishop Robert Barron. Welcome back to the studio bishop.
1:49.8	Hey Matt, good to see you.
1:51.0	How are you doing?
1:51.6	I'm doing well.
1:52.4	Today we're talking about how to strengthen the Catholic identity of Catholic schools.
	...

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