I'm a bit confused and a little more than shaken. I was listening to a Fr. Hewko sermon and he stated that according to Canon Law sending your kids to public school is an excommunicable offense. He didn't state which canon it was, so I'm not sure where he's referring to.

What are parents to do when they have no options for private Catholic schooling, and aren't fit for homeschooling? I don't have an option for Catholic schooling (that isn't Novus Ordo) and I'm not much of a teacher, and my wife certainly isn't fit for it. So what do I do? I'm basically damned if I do and damned if I don’t.

“Catholic children may not attend non-Catholic, neutral, or mixed-schools, that is, those which are open also to non-Catholics, and it pertains exclusively to the Ordinary of the place to decide, in accordance with instructions of the Holy See, under what circuмstances and with what precautions against the danger of perversion, attendance at such schools may be tolerated“
(CIC 1917, § 1374)

When the Catholic schools started to raise tuition that Catholics could not afford while accepting wealthy non Catholics, that rule was broken by Bishops and Catholic schools.

That was a red flag back then.

I know of a family inside a communist country (Cuba) who had to send their children to the schools, no choices. They said the education was excellent, but of course the indoctrination was poison for the soul. What they would do every day is to ask the children everything they learned and then they taught them the other side and showed them where it was going. In communist schools, they teach the children to report their parents if they see anything which they are taught to look for, it is much worse than the USA. If you must send them to public schools make sure it is a good one education wise (live in a neighborhood that has good schools) and ask your children every day what they were taught that conflicts with what they have lived with you. To do that, the parents have to really live the faith, or else the children will see that it is all just talk and they will follow their teachers, who really do have conviction.

If it sounds difficult, keep in mind that it is enormously easier than what other Catholic parents are having to do by homeschooling or moving to another state with a trad school.

1215. Catholic children are to be educated in schools where not only nothing contrary to Catholic faith and morals is taught, but rather in schools where religious and moral training occupy the first place. * * * (Canon 1372.)'

'1216. In every elementary school the children must, according to their age, be instructed in Christian doctrine.

'The young people who attend the higher schools are to receive a deeper religious knowledge, and the bishops shall appoint priests qualified for such work by their learning and piety. (Canon 1373.)'

I'm still not seeing the part about excommunication.  Just curious about why Fr. Hewko made that particular statement.

I'm still not seeing the part about excommunication.  Just curious about why Fr. Hewko made that particular statement.