(Photo from the Catholic Diocese of Jackson website)
- “A parent must have the ability to say, ‘This school isn’t the best fit for my child, and I need to make a different choice,” the Bishops of Jackson and Biloxi tell lawmakers.
A letter from the Catholic Bishops in Jackson and Biloxi was distributed to lawmakers this week in support of the HB 2, the “Mississippi Educational Freedom Program Act of 2026.”
Bishop of Jackson Joseph R. Kopacz and Bishop of Biloxi Louis F. Kihneman III wrote in their joint letter addressed to Speaker Jason White (R) and Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R) that parental choice in education programs move in the direction of promoting social and economic justice.
Parental choice in education, they told state leaders, is important because no one knows a child better than his or her parents.
“No one else should be able to judge better on a daily basis if their child is learning. No one should know better what their child is going through at school or if their educational needs – no matter what they are – are being met,” the letter outlines.
As the Catholic Bishops of the dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi, the two Bishops represent the state’s entire Catholic community.
“A parent must have the ability to say, ‘This school isn’t the best fit for my child, and I need to make a different choice.’ But if no other options exist, largely due to a family’s economic situation, it doesn’t matter what the parent knows or thinks; they are rendered powerless. And no parent should feel that way when it comes to their child’s future,” the Bishops wrote. “For too many in our state – especially those who live in minority communities, disadvantaged neighborhoods or many rural communities, and for families who are struggling economically – there is only one option.”
The two went on to say that the proposed House legislation would help remove many of those financial barriers and allow students to attend the school of their family’s choice or provide much needed resources for home-based education.
“A funding mechanism that gives parents options will shift the focus of the debate and place it first and foremost on the child, rather than the system,” the Catholic leaders added. “What’s best for children’s education should be the foremost concern for parents, educators, advocates, and lawmakers.”
The Bishops’ backing of the House education freedom bill comes as Governor Tate Reeves (R) and the Trump White House have signaled their support for the measure as well.
Reeves said Tuesday that if the House and Senate passed HB 2 and sent to his desk, he would sign it.
