Bishop O’Connell welcomes new executive actions promoting parental choice in education
January 31, 2025 at 1:44 p.m.
WASHINGTON – “The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children and have both the right and responsibility to direct their child’s education,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education. Bishop O’Connell offered the following comments in response to the Executive Order signed by President Trump, “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families.”
“I welcome President Trump’s Executive Order, which takes meaningful steps to expand educational freedom for families across the country. This Order rightly recognizes that parents are the primary educators of their children. As the Church proclaimed in Gravissimum Educationis, since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate them and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators of their own children.
“I also applaud the Executive Order’s emphasis on ensuring that Native American families and military families enjoy the benefits of parental choice. Importantly, this order affirms families who seek to choose faith-based educational options. For generations, Catholic schools have enriched America by providing a rigorous education rooted in faith. Our schools are committed to serving all students, regardless of income, and we support policies that ensure families are truly free to choose the educational environment that aligns with their values and meets the needs of their children.”
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WASHINGTON – “The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children and have both the right and responsibility to direct their child’s education,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education. Bishop O’Connell offered the following comments in response to the Executive Order signed by President Trump, “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families.”
“I welcome President Trump’s Executive Order, which takes meaningful steps to expand educational freedom for families across the country. This Order rightly recognizes that parents are the primary educators of their children. As the Church proclaimed in Gravissimum Educationis, since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate them and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators of their own children.
“I also applaud the Executive Order’s emphasis on ensuring that Native American families and military families enjoy the benefits of parental choice. Importantly, this order affirms families who seek to choose faith-based educational options. For generations, Catholic schools have enriched America by providing a rigorous education rooted in faith. Our schools are committed to serving all students, regardless of income, and we support policies that ensure families are truly free to choose the educational environment that aligns with their values and meets the needs of their children.”