Archdiocese Plan to Close Bishop Conaty High Sparks Controversy

Two stories, interesting juxtaposition. First, the Los Angeles Archdiocese finds it financially imprudent to bring Bishop Conaty High School up to seismic standards at a cost of $1.3 million (“Students Protest Plan to Shut School,” Metro, Jan. 30). Second, to date the archdiocese realizes $29.3 million on its auction of the Doheny Library collection and artifacts (Part I, Feb. 5). The first is the one that interests me most. I mention the second only to put the dollar amount into perspective.

Bishop Conaty is an inner-city high school serving mostly Hispanic girls but also a fair number of blacks and Asians. Most of the students are Catholics; many are not. Its enrollment suffers because of high tuition, but the school is far from down and out with an enrollment of 325. It does receive a modest annual operating supplement from the archdiocese of a couple of hundred thousand a year. But 80% of its graduates go on to college. It is an educational oasis for its students with an environment which is warm, supportive and loving; it is relatively drug free, gang free and exploitation free. The principal and teachers bear witness daily to the good news of Jesus--that we are all equal and free, and that we can all be anything we care enough about preparing ourselves to be.

I’m upset that the flagship of archdiocesan secondary education is being sunk by a quick stroke of an administrative pen. This school should be fostered and supported and treasured by Archbishop Roger Mahony and by every Catholic in the city for what it does. Yes, there are promises of Catholic education for these girls, but 2900 W. Pico is close to where most live and where they can commute easily.

Along with many of my 11,000 fellow alumnae, I’m going to work hard to save Conaty.

RITA A. SCHERREI

President

Bishop Conaty Alumnae Assn.