Bishop Reh's Press Release

press_release_01.jpg

A press release from Bishop Francis Reh stating that integration of Catholic schools is a year ahead of schedule and will take place in 1963

8/26/63 – S.

CHARLESTON AREA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS TO BE INTEGRATED YEAR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

(N.C.W.C. NEWS SERVICE)

CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 24 - - Integration of Catholic schools in the Charleston area will take place at the end of August, a year ahead of schedule, Bishop Francis F. Reh has announced.

                The Bishop of Charleston said in a statement (Aug. 23) that the date was advanced from September, 1964, in view of a recent Federal district court order calling for desegregation of public school district 20 in Charleston.

                Bishop Reh said that “because of the new circumstances which will now exist in Charleston as a result of the court decision, attention has been given to the provision of a 1961 pastoral letter of the diocese that stated: “Catholic pupils, regardless of color, will be admitted to Catholic schools as soon as this can be done with safety to the children and schools.  Certainly, this will be done not later than the public schools are open to all pupils.”

                “It was agreed,” the Bishop continued, “that the date of implementation would have to be advanced from September, 1964, to September, 1963, for Catholic schools of greater Charleston.

                “Accordingly, the admission policy of the Catholic schools in the Charleston area is now as follows: Great Charleston is divided into 10 territorial parishes.  While the churches of these territorial parishes have been open to all, regardless of color, there are two other parishes which primarily serve the Negro Catholics of the area.”

                “As of September, 1963, Catholic Negro elementary students who belong to these two special parishes have a choice of attending either the school which is operated by these parishes or the school of the territorial parish in which they reside.”

                The two “special parishes” referred to, St. Peter and Our Lady of Mercy, are attended primarily by Negro Catholics.  The parishes operate Immaculate Conception school, which has 407 Negro children, 202 of them Catholics.  These children now may attend either Immaculate Conception Elementary School or the school of the territorial parish in which they reside.

                There are nine schools for the 10 territorial parishes, including Immaculate Conception, and they have had a total enrollment of 3,200 students.