Should we be surprised?

As you may know, Catholic Schools' Week will be observed in the U.S. January 27 - February 1, 2008.

The theme this year is "Light the Way."

On the flier sent out from our Diocesan Office is a quote taken from Helen Keller: "Knowledge is Love and Light and Vision."

This quote is one recommended by the National Catholic Educational Assocation. Other suggested quotes by the NCEA are from Victor Hugo (who left the Catholic Church and became a staunch anti-papist), Abraham Lincoln (who was not Catholic), Albert Schweitzer (a Lutheran pastor), and Felix Adler (a rabbi).

I guess we simply don't have enough intellectual Catholics in our history who had anything inspiring to say about life or education.

I'm not exactly sure what the Keller quote means (and the source isn't given), but underneath it we read on the flier, "Experience all this and more at a Catholic school."

Nothing says Catholic education like a confusing quote from someone who is not even Catholic and who also happens to be a strong supporter of birth control and Planned Parenthood. Keller wrote in 1952 to Margaret Sanger:

What a glow of gratification was kindled in my heart when Polly read last week the wonderful news that you had founded the Planned Parenthood Association in India!

Not only have I continued to follow your work with loving admiration and expect ever greater results from your beneficence, I have also known of Nehru's statesmanlike interest in birth-control, and now I behold you and him and Lady Rama Rau working together -- a triple Hercules -- for the deliverance of a land long cursed with excess of population. I cannot imagine anything more blessed happening on earth.

I hope this isn't the "more" that can be learned and experienced at Catholic schools.