San Domenico School in San Anselmo, California (Courtesy of San Domenico School)
by Dan Morris-Young
The oldest Catholic school in California has relinquished that designation, dropping its official affiliation with the Catholic Church.
Officials at San Domenico School in San Anselmo, California, founded in 1850 by the Dominican Sisters, announced Nov. 13 that the school will no longer be Catholic and will drop official ties to the San Francisco Archdiocese and the Western Catholic Educational Association.
According to the statement, San Domenico "will continue to be an Independent School and remain accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). San Domenico School will continue to be a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)."
At the same time, however, their statement pledged that the school "has, and will continue to honor its Catholic and Dominican heritage. The Dominican Sisters and San Domenico School are deeply committed to remaining in relationship with one another and to the mission of the School."
"The Sisters also explained their decision to the San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone," it continued, "and remain deeply committed to their relationship with the Archdiocese."