Catholic school, the church down the U.S. government to immediately undo cut
The Secretary Vegas: "The funds will be restored with an amendment"
But to decide how to allocate the money will be the Ministry of Education
The Minister Giulio Tremonti
CITY 'VATICAN - events are not served, sit-ins, or outdoor lessons. And 'enough the threat of mobilization of Catholic schools for the government to change its mind within a few hours. The funds for private schools "are restored," he assured the Economy Undersecretary Giuseppe Vegas in the margins of the Senate Budget Committee on Financial. "There is a rapporteur's amendment to restore - Vegas says - the original level, ie 120 million euros. They can be calm, sleeping on four pillows. " Despite the reassurances, the Pope also made their voices heard: "Aid for the religious education of children - said Benedict XVI - is an inalienable right."
The ball, however, is bounced to the Ministry of Education: about 120 million of incoming funds for the school department will be headed by Mariastella Gelmini, in agreement with those of the Economy and Regional Affairs, then to evaluate, within 30 days entry into force of the Finance Act, the portion to be allocated to private schools. The amendments establish two different speakers of the Finance Bill and the budget approved today by the Senate Budget Committee. The amendment of Senator Saia (PDL) to the budget bill allocates 120 million for 2009 to schooling. The proposal of Senator Fratin Pichette (PDL) instead states that "while respecting the prerogatives of the regional school education, by decree of the Minister of Education in consultation with the Regional Minister and Economy Minister, after consultation with the State-Regions Conference, are set within 30 days from the date of entry into force of this Act, the criteria for distribution to the regions of the necessary financial resources to the implementation of measures under the program of interventions in education. "
Since Pd, Maria Pia Garavaglia seeks clarification on the government, "the announcement of the restoration of funds for a signal is only equal, but, as the government knows, the whole number, and 'far from being restored, and missing all' still many millions of appeal that the previous government had allocated to private schools. " "The central point of the matter - and 'the end of Garavaglia - should be to ensure equal rights for students and families. Instead, the government confirms nothing more than to look to education as a cost to contain. "
According to Senator Antonio Rusconi of the Democratic Party, still missing 14 million euros for the playing field. "All this will inevitably penalize not only the Catholic schools, but also citizens and families of pre-schools that are seen in difficulty and are forced to use the portfolios for the inevitable increase in fees. As always, many reassurances, many promises and little results. "
Positive that the government had accepted the requests of the CEI, said the leader of the House of Italy Massimo Donadi values, "but now should do the same for the equally legitimate coming from the world of public education and research."
Harder Paolo Ferrero, secretary of PRC: "While the government has ignored, if not repressed, demonstrations of hundreds of thousands of young students, researchers and teachers of public schools, refusing to change its provisions are still massacring School and that cut money and resources, it took a mere threat of mobilization on the part of private Catholic schools for the government to change its mind and within a few hours. In short, the Vatican and whistles Tremonti and obey the government. We're the farce, if we were not the tragedy, the school, "he said.
Against the original cut of about 130 million euros had thundered this morning Stenco Monsignor Bruno, director of the National Bishops' Conference for education, announcing that "the associations of Catholic schools across the country are mobilizing" against the cuts planned by the Berlusconi government.
"It is not returned - had complained Stenco - at this point has opened a crisis much deeper and federations of Catholic schools will soon be mobilized throughout the country." "Here - he also said - you want the state school and business school, the state and the market but not the private social sector that we represent ourselves and the school is not for private interest, but for public interests."
"In 2000 - he even explained Stenco - the Law on school equality has made a contribution of 530 million euros for the whole system of private schools, while spending on state school is 50 billion. The contribution, dello'1% per cent, so it is already minimal. " "In 2004 - he continued - for three consecutive years Tremonti has cut 530 of about 154 million total contribution, ie 33 percent. The Catholic school has been silent - he added - and we have recovered from year to year as amended, with effort and delays. Now, however, the minister repeated the same maneuver. " "The Church now - he concluded - must pull its consequences because without the contributions preschools do not go back and certainly in danger of closing."
After the words of Vegas, the spokesman of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Fr Domenico Pompili, has faded tones of the controversy. "The Italian bishops - said - have also recently emerged as a concern by several voices in the Catholic world, the fate of non-state public schools, however, while aware of the economic and social time that the country is experiencing, we are confident that the commitments in Government has taken on publicly. "
But shortly after comes the voice of the Pope. "The twenty-first century is showing even more clearly the need to forge personal life, family and social life according to those essential values which exalt the person and the whole community," and falls between these "the adoption of measures for parents to help them in their inalienable right to educate their children according to their ethical and religious convictions, as well as the promotion of youth," said Benedict XVI this morning, receiving the credentials of the new Ambassador of Argentina to the Holy See, Juan Pablo Cafiero.
(December 5, 2008)
Source: Republic
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