Cardinal's name removed at N. Catholic
CRANBERRY TWP — The name of Cardinal Donald Wuerl will be removed from North Catholic High School, church officials announced Wednesday.
Wuerl requested that his name be removed from the school in the interest of the students, faculty and families of the school, according to a news release from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
“In light of the circumstances today and lest we in any way detract from the purpose of Catholic education … I respectfully ask you to remove my name from it. In this way, there should be no distraction from the great success of the school and, most importantly, the reason for the school — the students,” Wuerl wrote in a letter dated Aug. 16.
The board of directors for the school met Aug. 17 and recommended approving the request. The board of Catholic High Schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh made the same request Aug. 20, and on Wednesday, Bishop David Zubik announced he accepted the recommendations.
The school will now officially be named North Catholic High School, the release states.
Zubik said he made his decision for the best interest of the high school.
“My concern is first, foremost and always for the students, that nothing overshadows their Catholic education,” he said.
However, Zubik said he and both boards acknowledge the contributions that Wuerl made to the area.
“The school was named in honor of Cardinal Wuerl in recognition of his efforts to preserve and expand Catholic education opportunities for the children of Pittsburgh — regardless of religion and regardless of need,” he said. “At a time of great economic upheaval for the people of Pittsburgh and financial stress for our diocese, he made education a priority. As bishop of Pittsburgh he raised tens of millions of dollars for tuition aid. The Bishop's Education Fund and the Extra Mile Foundation has provided over $32 million in scholarships to save schools that serve some of the most vulnerable communities of our city and whose success continues to be an example for the nation and a source of pride and hope for Pittsburgh.”
Wuerl was named more than 100 times in a state grand jury report connecting him to church efforts to minimize sexual abuse allegations over the years. The cardinal, who was then bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, is repeatedly described in the report as dealing with accused priests by relocating them. Shortly after the release of the grand jury report, a Change.org petitioned was created to remove Wuerl's name from the school. Thousands of petitioners called for the removal, many of whom were alumni of the school. On Wednesday morning shortly following the announcement of the removal, more than 7,500 people had signed the petition.
Meanwhile, classes began at the school Monday, with students greeted by red spray paint over the “Cardinal Wuerl” portion of the school sign along Route 228.
By noon Wednesday, less than an hour after the announcement, the home page of the school's website was stripped of most references to Wuerl, with the new name displayed prominently at the top. The school's social media pages also saw changes, with school logos and photos updated.
Calls to members of the school's board of directors, as well as other school officials, were not immediately returned Wednesday.
