The Gospel of Life in Action

Yet again, while dissidents keep pining for his scalp, doing zilch for the Life Cause in the process, Cardinal McCarrick just keeps doing the work of Jesus....

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington plans to open its first new high school in 55 years, featuring an innovative approach targeting low-income students.

The school will be part of the national Cristo Rey network, which advocates work-study programs, and will offer students "an affordable college-prep Catholic education," according to a statement from the Archdiocese Thursday....

Under the Cristo Rey model, students attend classes four days a week and work at a local business for one day in a job share arrangement. Businesses pay a nonprofit internship corporation for the students' work, with the money covering most tuition costs.

There are currently 11 Cristo Rey schools in the United States, with another eight slated to open in the next two years.

More on the Cristo Rey schools:

During the 2005-06 school year, 2,449 students are enrolled in the 11 Cristo Rey schools, which are located in Austin, Cambridge (MA), Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Lawrence (MA), Los Angeles, New York City, Portland (OR), Tucson, and Waukegan (IL). Ninety-one percent of the students are of color, and their median family income is $31,660, with an average family size of four. Three schools are opening in 2006, and another five schools are scheduled to open in 2007.

As one observer was heard to exclaim in the Piazza during the Conclave, "Go, Ted!"

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