IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 657 

Honoring the contributions of Catholic schools. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 31, 2006 

Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. FOSSELLA, Mr. 

BAKER, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. FITZPATRICK of Pennsylvania, Mr. FOLEY, 

Mr. LANTOS, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. CHABOT, 

Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. MCCAUL of 

Texas, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. HART, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, 

Mr. CASE, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. WEINER, 

Mr. HOLT, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. 

ROTHMAN, Mr. MURPHY, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. WOLF, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. MCGOVERN, 

Mr. KLINE, and Ms. ESHOO) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the contributions of Catholic schools. 

Whereas America’s Catholic schools are internationally acclaimed for their academic excellence, but provide students more than a superior scholastic education; 

Whereas Catholic schools ensure a broad, values-added education emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, intellectual, physical, and social values in America’s young 

people; 
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•HRES 657 IH 

Whereas the total Catholic school student enrollment for the 

2005–2006 academic year is about 2.5 million and the 

student-teacher ratio is 15 to 1; 

Whereas Catholic schools teach a diverse group of students; 

Whereas more than 27 percent of school children enrolled in 

Catholic schools are from minority backgrounds, and 

nearly 14 percent are non-Catholics; 

Whereas Catholic schools produce students strongly dedicated 

to their faith, values, families, and communities by providing an intellectually stimulating environment rich in 

spiritual, character, and moral development; 

Whereas in the 1972 pastoral message concerning Catholic 

education, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops 

stated: ‘‘Education is one of the most important ways by 

which the Church fulfills its commitment to the dignity 

of the person and building of community. Community is 

central to education ministry, both as a necessary condition and an ardently desired goal. The educational efforts 

of the Church, therefore, must be directed to forming 

persons-in-community; for the education of the individual 

Christian is important not only to his solitary destiny, 

but also the destinies of the many communities in which 

he lives.’’; and 

Whereas January 29 to February 4, 2006, has been designated as Catholic Schools Week by the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals of Catholic Schools 

3 Week, an event co-sponsored by the National Catho-
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•HRES 657 IH 

1 lic Educational Association and the United States 

2 Conference of Catholic Bishops and established to 

3 recognize the vital contributions of America’s thou4 sands of Catholic elementary and secondary schools; 

5 and 

6 (2) congratulates Catholic schools, students, 

7 parents, and teachers across the Nation for their on8 going contributions to education, and for the key 

9 role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, 

10 stronger future for this Nation. 

Æ