Today during Sunday service at Saint Saviour, a Catholic Church on 8th Avenue in Park Slope, parents protested the decision by pastor Father Murphy not to renew the contract of James Flanagan, a respected and beloved principal at the Saint Saviour Elementary school.
"I'm not naive. Given Mr. Flanagan's age, which is 62, I know he won't be principal at the school forever. He probably won't be there when my son graduates from elementary school," a parent who asked me not to use his name told me. "But Mr. Flanagan has the right to stay as long as he wants and leave the school with the same grace and dignity that he has carried himself all these years. He has led a very successful school. There are no criminal charges against him. It makes no sense."
The outraged parents, who know that Father Murphy has the final say, know that "the only chance we have is if the public outcry is so great, Murphy will sit down with the Bishop and they'll figure out a way to let Mr. Flanagan stay as a way to save face on this."
Inside the church, Father Murphy delivered a homily, interestingly enough, about the importance of change. "The holy spirit is all about change," the parent told me. "From Elvis to the Beatles or the Mets at Shea Staduium changing to Citi Field, it's all about change."
A parent, who particpated in the protest told me: "It hurt me to march outside the church but we had to get our message out. I grew up in this close-knit Catholic community in Brooklyn. I have a strong faith. But we are upset by this."
Today I write to lend my full support to the reinstatement of Mr. Flanagan, the long serving Principal of SSES. As a concern parent of a student attending the named institution, I must express my profound disappointment regarding the injustice that is inflicted on the education of our children. I am deeply saddened to note that despite all our efforts to meet and communicate effectively as PARENTS and CHRISTIAN FAMILIES with common GOALS to Fr. Murphy and Bishop DiMazieo in an attempt to resolve this impasse, has proven futile. Therefore our kids are made to suffer the consequences.
It is my humble opinion that there is no justification to the dismissal of Mr. Flanagan as principal, since the relevant authorities have failed to substantiate us with PROOF of his incapability of handling the future of SSES. To This end I would like to state categorically that Mr. Flanagan’s contract be renewed immediately.
TO SAVE OUR KIDS FUTURE, this is OUR primary responsibility.
I, also, am a life long, active member of St. Saviour. I have chosen St. Saviour Elementary School for my children’s education because of the phenomenal academics that is interwoven with living and learning the Catholic faith on a daily basis. Our test scores, on average, always far exceed the local public schools. In addition, our children are polite, well- mannered and respectful. Anyone who truly wanted a faith based education would be foolish to pass up St. Saviour. With all due respect Kathryn, principal is not spelled “principle”. We at St. Saviour know Mr. Flanagan is our pal and we support him!!
Kathryn, as a father of 2 young men that attend St. Saviour’s, I think your reasoning as to why most parishoners send their children to public school is ill-conceived. My wife placed our sons’ names on the Pre-K waiting list when they were 1, hoping to get into the Pre-K program. Some of our friends were turned away because of the lack of seats available. People have to send their children to public school because there are not enough seats available, not because the school is poorly run. It is only through the dedication and hard work of the teaching staff and the guidance of Mr. Flanagan that St. Saviour’s has become a bastion of Catholic/academic learning in this community. I have never met a man who epitomizes the title of Principal more than Mr. Flanagan. He cares about each child that walks through those doors as much as any person can, other than their parents.
Kathryn,
What is insulting is your insinuation that St. Saviour’s is not currently adequate as both spiritual and academic education. I question whether or not it is both that you want and not simply the latter. There are plenty of public and private schools available as options to you for that. For sure St. Saviour’s is excellent academically and there is no doubt to it’s religous education. You either have no understanding of what St. Saviour’s Elemntary is or simply want a secular education convenient to home. Which is it?
Kathryn, I will assume from your comment that despite your lifetime in our Parish your children do not attend Saint Saviours and that you have had about as much interaction with the School as Fr. Murphy has had in his 5 years as Pastor to Saint Saviours. As for why so many of our parishioners send their children to public school, I cannot respond as my children both attend Saint Saviours. Perhaps you may be in a much better position to answer your own question. Similarly, the “strides” made by Fr. Murphy in making Saint Saviours a “more welcoming” parish, when in fact his decision concerning Mr. Flanagan has fractured our parish, escape me. Perhaps you would be so kind as to advise us all of these “strides”.
Something to think about. First off Parish youth what was your friend doing to get yelled at? Second did anyone think that maybe Father Murphy’s plan is to have the school fail and just close it. Food for thought.
While I certainly would disagree with the comment left by Anonymous Parish Youth, I can’t help but be impressed by his/her ability to express himself/herself concerning the need for a “new and evolved approach to the church”. Such profound thoughts from an aparent youth who attended Saint Saviour’s Elementary School stands as a testament to the incredible academic success of Saint Saviour’s Elementary School under Principal Flanagan’s tenure. I must, however, note that there are far more alumni that just “Anonymous Parish Youth” who return to visit Mr. Flanagan and the teachers of Saint Saviors.
I noticed that an earlier commenter complained that she didn’t have a choice of a viable parochial school in Park Slope. There used to be plenty but they have all dwindled in enrollment and eventually closed. EXCEPT FOR ST. SAVIOUR. RUN BY FLANAGAN. I’m sorry for her that St. Saviour wasn’t a good fit for her family, and that the alternatives are slim to none – but you don’t hang a dedicated professional principal out to dry because you would like to try something a bit groovier!!! PS Look what alternative education practices have done to the public school system!
“It is not who is right that is of greatest importance, but of what is right.”
What is right for our children? What is right about leaving their fate with no answers? What is right about a person who refuses to address the people who are directly affected by this?
A parent makes these decisions every day in questioning “what is right” for their children. They are our greatest importance. We base these decisions on our faith. What is right?
Who is questioning who is right? We are questioning “what is right”!
As a life time member of saint saviors parish I am glad to know that soon our dear elementary school will hopefully, under new leadership, join us in the twenty first century. It is about time that park slope families were provided a viable option for parochial education WITHIN their own community. Parents in our community should not have to choose between giving their children a spiritual education or an adequate academic education. Maybe we should ask ourselves why so many of our parishioners send their kids to public school. And since when is more of the same a good thing thing didn’t we all live through the bush years? There is no question that when Father Murphy announces the next principle parents should be asking for someone with experience, knowledge, and a new vision. But to insinuate that he would not put sufficient thought and prayer into the decision when he has made such strides in helping us become a more welcoming parish is outright insulting and inappropriate.
When I was seven, I witnessed him make another seven year old girl cry in front of all the children in the church. We were making our first communion and instead of what should have been a great time in the life of a young Catholic, I spent it in fear of having that happen to me as well. The attitudes expressed in the previous comments are out of context as there were no parents around when this happened. The attitude Mr. Flannagan portrayed is outdated and no longer welcome. As a young person directly involved with him at one point, I can only say this is the best possible move. Fr. Murphy represents a new and evolved approach to the church which it has been needing as I am the only person I know from Mr. Flannagan’s kids who even considers stepping foot in that building today. Time will show this is a big step forward for this Church Community.
It would be a better witness for the Church to treat her employees with justice, fairness, mercy, and transparency.
Sadly, that doesn’t seem to have been the case at St. Saviour’s Parish in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
In fact, when many of the principals hear of this action, they will probably no longer trust the diocesan leadership and its “Preserving the Vision”
This situation can really become a sad commentary on life of the Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn at this time and place when someone as dedicated as Jim is being unceremoniously tossed out by Father Daniel Murphy –who in all likelihood did not follow the diocesan guidelines.
What are the consequences of such action?
One of the consequences is a greater weakening of the Church by denigrating or excluding the many gifts of the Spirit present in the people who are the Church. This can usually lead to the old problem of clericalism, which arises when “the church” acts in indifference, or even contempt, toward the people who are the Church.
Consequently, as Catholics, we grieve at the church’s violation of its own teachings about love and justice and human rights, in its treatment of its employees.
Unfortunately, it is, very common, sorry to say, for some pastoral and institutional leaders to insinuate that their reason for refusing to discuss the cause of a termination is to protect the person being terminated
The scars of these experiences go very deep in the lives and souls of those treated this way by so-called pastoral leaders.
It hurts even more when the Christian community just seems not to care very much, either about what is done to a brother and sister in Christ or about the gross betrayal of pastoral leadership, when our pastors employ such tactics. It can also border on being institutional abuse!!!
Many of the parishoners in Park Slope will speak out!!-
Bishop DiMarzio, in a recent Easter homily said something to the effect that we all must speak out against all forms of abuse.
This is ugly behavior. It has no place in the Body of Christ. We all suffer from it.
We ask Bishop DiMarzio to facilitate a change of mind by Father Daniel Murphy and that he will also learn to be upfront, more willing to work, sit down and iron out his difficulties. .
Where are our true leaders? Is Mr. Jim Flanagan one that this diocese is really afraid of?
Real leaders do not treat people with emotional abuse and disregard and hide under the shield of a pastor’s right to terminate an employee !!
Incidentally all of this happened between the Friday of Palm Sunday until Pentecost
Sunday!! And it is still going on.
So instead of having the parish focus on Christ our Savior and Redeemer, and the message of love, forgiveness, redemption and hope, the pastor’s subtle actions were involved in emphasizing the destruction of a dedicated Christians life and career.
How appalling – for it unfortunately continues to leave many of us with images of Judas Iscariot.
This is a difficult situation but not an uncommon one as the history of the Church demonstrates from the very beginning.
As Roman Catholics we are all called to be faithful to both Love and Truth but this is not as easy as it appears and oftentimes one of our leaders fails (though probably no more than any one of us) to some extent in either one or both areas.
I think we need to keep praying for our pastors and Bishops that they may exercise their authority in such a manner that the Church’s nature as both Mother and Teacher may be more evidently manifested.
Sincerely…
JD
Interesting homily, I thought the Holy Spirit was for enlightenment. As far as change goes, St. Saviour’s needs a new Pastor not a new principal. Maybe his change Homily is appropriate. If Fr. Murphy leaves, we will agree with him.
I have sent our daughter to Catholic parochial school since kindergarten, and watched in incredible frustration, anger and sorrow as the diocese says one thing about “saving the schools” (lay participation, innovation, quality) and does exactly the opposite (same old feudal system, autocracy, and contempt for parent-stakeholders and educators). I compare the treatment of dedicated and passionate Catholic school parents and staff by the diocese and a few clueless pastors like this one to a restaurant diner who, when offered a free dessert cart, gets up and slugs the waiter. Why’dja have to go and do that?
It is not who is right that is of greatest importance,but of what is right.
It speaks volumes about the pastor that he managed to outrage these dedicated and devoted parents, to the point where they are protesting in front of the church. The pastor’s sermon today, which discussed this situation to the Beatles replacing Elvis and Citi Field replacing Shea Stadium, on Pentecost Sunday no less, also speaks volumes about his cavalier attitude about the school and the Church in general. On Thursday evening, over 100 parents came out in on one day notice, in the rain, and attended a crisis meeting at the school. Believe it or not, the pastor refused to attend, after being invited. Not that having 33% of the tuition paying parents in one place would require he walk the 100 feet from his residence to the meeting.