As its price for supporting federal aid to education, the U.S. Roman Catholic hierarchy demands low-cost loans to parochial schools. The nation's first Catholic President refuses, and thus far both sides have argued the constitutional principles involved. The unexamined side of the debate is the actual financial state of Catholic parochial schools. Do they really need federal aid? Where do their funds come from? How much does a nun make?
The prosperity of parochial school systems varies considerably, but there is a consistent pattern. In any typical parish, the priest has the duty and obligation of providing schooling. He raises the operating expenses chiefly from the Sunday collection plate, getting contributions that would make almost any Protestant minister envious; he charges little or no tuition. Going heavily for him are two assets: he can get nun teachers at a board, room and stipend cost of only $650-$1,250 a year, and he can often tap diocesan funds for loans for building.
On this basis, plus fierce parental pressure since World War II, U.S. Catholic schools, which form the world's biggest private school system, have grown much faster than public schools. Catholic schools now enroll 5,300,000 students—or 12% of all U.S. schoolchildren. Yet about 5,000,000 Catholic youngsters are still in public schools, including two-thirds of all those of high school age (the graduates of 10,287 Catholic grade schools are swamping 2,428 Catholic high schools).
According to Means. A prime example is Philadelphia, where in 1952 the late Cardinal O'Hara, a stern foe of federal aid, launched a building campaign that gave Catholics enough schools to handle about 85% of their children (which is 39% of all Philadelphia's children). The schools charge no tuition, but collect money according to means. Poor parishioners with many children may give nothing at all. For building loans. O'Hara set up an archdiocesan "central bank.'' Rich parishes put up the cash at going interest rates; poor ones borrow it. with archdiocesan help if necessary. The only reason that Philadelphia's Catholics want federal aid is "on principle"—and to match any advantage that public schools get.
The same goes for other big archdioceses, such as Chicago, where Msgr. William E. McManus sees "no need for federal aid to Chicago, public or parochial," though he adds that "if it comes, we ought to get the crumb." McManus' schools handle 34% of all Chicago schoolchildren, owe more than $40 million. They stay afloat by central-bank deals and an average annual tuition charge of $25 in grade schools and $225 in high schools. "Come hell or high water," says Msgr. McManus, "we're going to have 125 new classrooms next fall, no matter what they do in Washington.''