On November 12, 2000, SDACT’s parent organization, the National Association of Catholic School Teachers (NACST), issued the first “Bishops’ Report Card” during the semi-annual meeting of the United States Catholic Bishops Conference in Washington, D.C. 

While the Bishops were meeting inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, a crowd of very enthusiastic participants outside cheered as NACST President, Rita Schwartz, announced each grade in front of an 8 foot high mock-up of the report card, a copy of which was later mailed to the Ordinary of every US Catholic diocese. 

The report card graded the bishops collectively.  It examined their performance vis-à-vis how they as a group performed, in relation to the treatment of Catholic school teachers nationwide.  Certainly, if some bishops had been graded individually, they would have faired better than did the group as a whole.  However, it must not be forgotten that the bishops have collectively put out a number of official pronouncements on the just treatment of Church employees, and therefore must as a consequence assume collective responsibility when many members of their group act contrary to those pronouncements, thus prejudicing the stand of the group as a whole. 

The bishops were graded in 13 subjects in two key areas, “Core Responsibilities” and “Social Skills,” receiving 11 “F’s” and 2 D-’s. Following the report card ceremony, the participants marched in front of the bishops’ meeting place chanting: “We are your Catholic teachers, hear us now.”  Next year when they are graded again, it will be interesting to see if we were heard and if improvement has been made.

The SDACT delegation was well represented at the rally.  Click the links below for photos from the rally.