In Catholic education, athletes like to win competitions as much as anyone else\u2014but sport has an even higher purpose that should take priority for students and coaches.<\/p>\n
Sport done rightly aids the development of character and virtue. Catholic sport allows for the integral formation of body and soul, to work toward the fulfillment of athletic and intellectual prowess and excellence. Sport builds school community, reinforcing bonds among students and between students, faculty and staff. Sport forges bonds among parents and the larger community.<\/p>\n
Sport in Catholic education is not only for the physically talented. Because it has so much to offer the human person, all capable students should have the benefit of participating in athletics and sporting competitions. What student hasn\u2019t missed catching or hitting a ball? It\u2019s not only about learning handeye coordination, but also about how to emotionally respond and behave in a way that leads to virtue formation.<\/p>\n
ALL CAPABLE STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE BENEFIT OF PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETICS.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
As stated in The Cardinal Newman Society\u2019s new standards on sports in Catholic education, a Catholic institution should be concerned not only with \u201cphysical skills and strength\u201d but also developing social skills and \u201cChristian character and virtue.\u201d The standards discuss the outlook of Pope St. John Paul II, who spoke of the importance of sport in the development of the human person as well as the danger if sport is simply \u201creduced to mere effort and to a questionable, soulless demonstration of physical strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sport can help students recognize their physical and mental capacities and limitations. For some, it\u2019s the acceptance of their skill; for others, it\u2019s the determination to improve, which motivates them to understand who they are or who they are called to be.<\/p>\n
Some believe gender is a social construct, and that athletic policies should invite students who express a gender different from their biological sex (\u201ctransgendered athletes\u201d) to compete alongside or against athletes of a different biological sex. But science tells us there are chromosomes within each human person that exist at conception<\/em> defining one\u2019s sex as either male or female. The Church teaches that the human person grows as a unified body and soul, not as \u201ctwo natures united, but a single nature\u201d as male or female. As our standards explain, \u201cThrough integral and holistic Catholic education, student-athletes will Sport Is More than a Game for Catholic Students NEWMAN SOCIETY EDITORIAL come to understand who they are as unified persons of body and soul [and] as sons and daughters of God.\u201d Sport can be important to upholding the perennial teachings of the Church and the mission of the Catholic school or college.<\/p>\n
Catholic institutions of integrity will recognize natural law and Catholic teaching, refusing to capitulate to contemporary ideologies that negate the basic binary principle of human sexuality. Faithful Catholic institutions will participate in like-minded athletic associations or sports leagues that do not usurp the rights of students to compete with students of the same biological sex. This is a matter of justice. Our standards state, \u201cBy nature, men are typically bigger, faster and stronger than women and so should not play against them in competitive interschool athletics.\u201d Any athletic competition should protect the safety and dignity of all participants.<\/p>\n
It is important that educators ensure that students are not degraded by unsportsmanlike behavior, such as name-calling or hazing, and \u201ccoaching that is physically, emotionally or spiritually abusive, harmful or degrading.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sport in a Catholic school is the extension of the school\u2019s academic and religious mission\u2014to transform students into persons who will live their earthly and eternal lives as humble servants of God. It should be seen as an evangelical and formative program.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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In Catholic education, athletes like to win competitions as much as anyone else\u2014but sport has an even higher purpose that should take priority for students and coaches. Sport done rightly aids the development of character and virtue. Catholic sport allows for the integral formation of body and soul, to work […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5329,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"issue":[285,286],"item_type":[],"coauthors":[69],"class_list":["post-5310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-formation","issue-athletics","issue-commentary-athletics"],"yoast_head":"\n
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