Q. Is it true that some countries allow citizens to choose where their tax dollars go in terms of the support of the school system of their choice?
A. Yes. Some of the countries that allow their citizens to direct their tax dollars to the school of their choice include: Australia, Canada, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Scotland, and Ireland just to name a few. Actually, in some of these countries, school choice is a constitutional right.
There has been progress in the United States in allowing taxpayers to direct their dollars to the school of their choice. If I am correct, I believe nearly 30 states allow some type of school choice.
In terms of parental and state responsibilities regarding the education of children, the Catholic Church promotes the principle of subsidiarity, that is, the best decisions are usually made on the lowest level of decision-making. In other words, rather than the federal government making decisions for all school districts nationwide, it is better for communities, counties and states to make local decisions.
The Catholic Church teaches that for subsidiarity to be effective, families and those whom they entrust their children to, in terms of school systems, must enjoy true liberty about how their children are educated. This should include funding.
The Catholic Church’s Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2005) states that “the refusal to provide public economic support to nonpublic schools that need assistance and that render a service to civil societies is considered an injustice.”
It is very important for all Catholics to be in contact with and encourage their State Senator in the Nebraska Legislature to support school choice.
Great question. Thanks for submitting it.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
