October 17, 2009

Protesting for Cardinal Dougherty

Page13news (class of '86) was there.

Cardinal Dougherty alumni, current students, and faculty all gathered at the school's front gates to, for the most part, rally to save the school from its announced closing by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

I've posted my opinion on the matter before, but still felt obligated to attend and support those who want to keep Dougherty open.

I saw several old friends and classmates as well as my former history teacher, Jack Fitzsimmons. Joe Conklin of WIP radio, former Vet Stadium Judge and current Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery, and State Rep. Brendan Boyle were all there to support saving CD from the chopping block.

Event organizer Steve Schmidt kept the crowd energized during the rain drops that fell during the first half of the rally. Then at noon, Mother Nature (or more likely the school's namesake, Dennis Cardinal Dougherty) parted the clouds as the sun peaked through and warmed the hearts of the crowd.

A similar rally, this time with both Dougherty and Northeast Catholic supporters in attendance, is scheduled for Monday at the Archdiocesan offices at 17th and the Parkway.




Unfortunatly for those of us who gathered on North Second Street today, this little guy probably won't be a graduate of CD.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are not enough students to keep this school open. The baby boom is over.

Why should parents pay to keep a half empty building open.

Schmitty said...

There are plenty of students to attend CDHS. There is not enough room for 6,000 anymore. The capacity is 2,000. If the Archdiocee would invest in the inner city as JESUS would we would be turning people away.