Santa Rosa, Calif., Mar 27, 2013 / 01:04 am
Bishop Robert F. Vasa of Santa Rosa, Calif., has said that he will allow several months for education and instruction before moving forward with a Catholic identity policy for diocesan school teachers.
"The Pastors and I agree that a longer implementation period is in order," Bishop Vasa said in a March 19 letter to the diocese.
"It is now clear to me that there are a number of significant misunderstandings about what the Church teaches, as well as why, and this presents an opportunity to teach."
The bishop had previously introduced a contract addendum, entitled "Bearing Witness," which all educators within the diocese were to sign, acknowledging that they are "ministerial agent[s]" and are "called by God to a life of holiness." The statement of faith encourages teachers to keep God in their "thoughts, words and deeds."