"That effective equality between the state schools and the recognised schools that gives parents the right freedom to choose a school for their children must be promoted". This is the warning made this morning by Benedict XVI, as he gave audience in Castel Gandolfo to the participants in the conference of the Centro Studi per la scuola cattolica (Cssc) named "Beyond the educational emergency, the Catholic school at the service of the young", which is taking place in Rome to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the organisation by the Italian Bishops Conference. Recalling the meeting and the documents of the Italian Bishops Conference about the mission of the Catholic school, the Pope stated that "to be chosen and appreciated" it must be "known in its pedagogical purpose; one must be fully aware not only of its ecclesial identity and its cultural project, but also of its civilian significance, which is not to be regarded as the defence of a biased interest, but as a valuable contribution to the building of the common good for the whole Italian society". "Your Study Centre commented the Pontiff has carried out, in this first decade of its work, a truly valuable service for the Church and the Italian society" and has "been particularly interested in the events of equality and the reforms of the schooling system in Italy". (continued)
