The following article was contributed by Sister Angie Shaughnessy, SCN, J.D. Ph.D.
Today’s Catholic school leaders face issues unheard of as little as a decade ago.
Issues such as cyber bullying, suicidal ideation fostered by the Internet and Facebook, transgender decisions, same sex marriage, loyalty oaths, and more cause administrators to wonder where they will find the time to address academic excellence and most importantly, Gospel values. Over a half century ago, Teilhard de Chardin wrote, “Nothing is profane to those who know how to see.”
Is it possible, then, that we can find our students’, parents’, faculty and staff’s and our own holiness in the day-to-day crises we face and decisions we make? This presenter believes we can. As Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” We need to know what Caesar’s things are before we will be able to render rightly, but we also need to know that it is more than possible to use the lens of the Gospel in determining how to respond to Caesar.
This presentation will identify current and emerging legal issues in the choppy waters of Catholic school administration. A legal/ethical/Gospel model of decision making can be the lens, the instrument that help us make decisions that are both Gospel-based and legally sound as we seek holiness in our professional, as well as personal, lives.
Be sure to attend Sister Angie’s session, Legal Issues for Catholic School Leaders: Navigating the Choppy Waters According to the Gospel at the 2017 NCEA Institute for Catholic School Leaders (ICSL).
