Gospel, poverty and Catholic schools

Abstract

Catholic schools in Scotland have a long history of serving the needs of the poor and are called to share in the contemporary Catholic preferential option for the poor and the international and national initiatives that include addressing the problem of child poverty through school education. The Catholic preferential option for the poor and the international/national discourse on the eradication of poverty in relation to Catholic schools are, however, underpinned by some fundamental concepts and discussions that require deeper exploration. First, the gospel conceptualisation of poverty, heavily rooted in the Jewish understanding of the poor and the role of the poor, requires elucidation as it is often underdeveloped. Second, the contemporary discussion about the nature and scope of poverty in the Western world and, in particular, how this impacts on children and their education, also requires attention as this will have significant implications for Catholic schools. This article aims to provide an initial exploration of these fundamental concepts and discussions and attempts to identify possible correlation and links between the gospel concept of poverty and the contemporary discussion on Western poverty. The article will explore the Lukan concept of the poor as ‘the excluded’ and the contemporary potential for exclusion within school contexts experienced by children from poor backgrounds within Scotland, focussing on Catholic schools. This will be followed by a reflective response to the issues raised in this article by Mr Michael McGrath, the director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service. The article will conclude by suggesting that this correlation and these links are important for Catholic schools in Scotland if they are to be consistent in their preferential option for the poor. This may also have implications for the wider international network of Catholic schools.