Catholic education "in need of salvation"

In today's New York Times, Patrick McCloskey and Joseph Claude Harris have an op-ed that connects nicely with Marc's post, below, on Erwin Chemerinsky's recent misguided (and morally repulsive) proposal to "require all children to attend public schools and to require that they do so within districts made up of metropolitan areas."   The authors are, I think, quite right that, insofar as the Church has de-emphasized parochial education as an essential aspect of her mission, she has "lost her way."  They stop short, though, in their recommendations, of an essential point:  It is not enough that the Church prioritize parochial education, it is also necessary that the political community provide equitable support for the very public work of Catholic schools.  These schools provide a "public service", and are morally entitled to public support for doing so.