Merger of St. Philip, St. Margaret sustained
Group vows Vatican appeal
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh on Wednesday said it has upheld its decision to merge St. Philip and St. Margaret of Scotland schools, denying an appeal of the decision from a group including some parents of St. Philip School pupils.
That group now plans to appeal to the Vatican.
On Feb. 12, the diocese announced the St. Philip School building in Crafton would close and the school would merge with St. Margaret of Scotland School in Green Tree, beginning at the start of the 2021-22 academic year. The newly merged school would have its classes at the Green Tree school.
It was one of two sets of mergers planned in the South Hills region, and one of several in recent years around the Diocese of Pittsburgh, responding to enrollment declines and other demographic shifts. The diocese has been shifting from the traditional format of parish schools to having regional school networks, each with its own governing board. The South Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, to which the merging schools belong, was formed last
year.
In denying the appeal, Bishop David Zubik wrote to St. Philip parents: “The sense of loss, and even anger, that some people are experiencing over these necessary decisions reflects their deep love for their school, and they are in my prayers. However, it’s also important to recognize and thank the many others who have come together in support of the newly merged schools and Catholic education.”
He wrote that everyone “has a right to offer an opinion or appeal, in Christian charity and respect, with the common good.” He said most have done this, but a “minority of people have expressed their anger in ways that do not reflect the spirit of Jesus.” Bishop Zubik said in an online news conference he was referring to the tone of some correspondence sent to the diocese.
Those filing the appeal, and their supporters in the group Committee to Save St. Philip School, said they were disappointed but not surprised.
“We had hoped the bishop would meet with us and our canonical counsel before rendering this decision,” said a statement from Colin Wrabley, a parent of students at St. Philip and a representative of the appellants. “But we were fully prepared for this and are deep into the preparation of our appeal to the Vatican.”
He said his group has been collecting evidence it believes “clearly demonstrates an invalid process in
closing our school.”
Mr. Wrabley said church officials have not responded to a lengthy list of questions about the process, and that Bishop Zubik didn’t respond to a request for a meeting that would include counsel from both sides.
Bishop Zubik said in an online news conference he spent hours reviewing letters and emails but concluded upholding the decision would be the “best step forward to make sure that
Catholic education was going to be available. ... For the long term for this portion of the south region of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.”
Diocesan officials said in the news conference that they followed proper procedures and had many hours of hearings, considering several options and listening to the various stakeholders.
“Lots of people were involved from the St. Philip community, and they were not wallflowers in this process,” said the Rev. David Poecking, president of the South Regional Catholic Elementary Schools board. “And board representatives as well as some of the regional staff were there to hear these things” and to consider in their deliberations. He said he abstained from the board vote to recommend the merger because of his role as pastor of Archangel Gabriel Parish, formed by a merger of parishes that included St. Margaret of Scotland.