Archdiocese Plan to Close Bishop Conaty High Sparks Controversy

Isn’t it funny how the archdiocese announces one day that it can’t raise the $1.3 million needed to earthquake proof Bishop Conaty High, but then announces its earnings from an auction of the Estelle Doheny collection with the intent of using the money for recruitment and education of priests at three local seminaries?

I don’t recall that young seminarians marched on the archdiocese picketing for their buildings to avoid demolition. The girls of Conaty did that. And the Conaty girls have gone without (without newer books, without a real stage, without remodeled restrooms) far longer than young seminarians have gone without anything but the best treatment to keep them from leaving the seminary before becoming ordained.

This leads me to believe that the church officials are as discriminating against women now as they ever have been. After all, all seminarians are men and all Conaty’s students are young women. Or perhaps the church is just discriminating against minorities. Most seminarians are white men while most students at Conaty are Latino, Asian or black.

Of course, there is the chance that I am being too hard on the archdiocese. They could just be trying to teach the Conaty girls their last lesson: If you want something done, do it yourself.

Of course, I always thought the church’s biggest lesson was supposed to be that of sharing your wealth and good fortune with those less fortunate.

ROSANNE WELCH

Van Nuys