College Principal’s Report

Those of my age and older can look back to their schooling and recall being taught very clear notions of right and wrong, goodness and evil, the stark alternative of a state of grace or a state of sin, and a final, eternal option of heaven or hell. Following the Second Vatican Council which formally closed on December 8th, 1965, the emphasis was placed more on the positive expression of God’s love and less on sins. The notion of specific sins was gradually blurred into a general state of sinfulness. Writing in the early eighties, Dan Mintie described the dilemma of the seventies in these terms: “In the decade following the Second Vatican Council many notions about sin did go out the window - the general consensus being “happily so”. A “laundry list” notion of evil, an introspective “examination” of conscience, a whole geography of heaven and hell and the stopovers in between went out with a whoosh. By the early 1970s, however, thoughtful people throughout the Church began to realize that many more issues had been raised than had been resolved. Suddenly Catholics found themselves facing some tough questions about human nature, evil and the quality of their Christian lives. People are again yearning for some kind of yardstick against which to measure their experience.” One consequence of this yearning in the eighties and nineties has been the rise of fundamentalism — the literal interpretation of the Bible and the false presupposition that the Bible teaches a scientific understanding of the world in the cosmos. The increase in the number of Christians of all denominations who are fundamentalist has been quite startling. Genuine faith, however, must rise above such simplistic notions to the central truth of a God who loves us, who became human in the person of Jesus and died in the greatest act of love, an act that gives us hope. It is a mistake to try to oversimplify our notions of the God who is beyond all understanding. How we act towards others is the central issue. Good people have a fundamental disposition to love others and treat them kindly. If we are not that way, our values are distorted. Nontheless, in the wake of the financial crisis that has dominated the second half of this year, I have found myself once again thinking about what has happened to the notion of conscience and sin. Many people no longer think in terms of right or wrong but live by a code that “anything is okay if it works for me”. The focus has become that “I can do what I like with my life” rather than one of my wider obligations to fellow human beings who are made in the image and likeness of God. Is it really surprising we have a world financial crisis when so many people act out of personal greed dressed up as “good business acumen”. In a very insightful article, Jesuit writer, Andrew Hamilton, recently had this to say: Sin is popularly seen simply as the breaking of God’s laws. But at a deeper level sin is the pursuit of values that sell your humanity short…. The root of the financial crisis was greed — seeking individual financial gain in ways that did not respect the common good. The symbols of greed were spectacular. Monstrous salaries of CEOs, for example, and takeovers that transferred fees to the engineers and debt to the companies. But greed was not confined to the top end. Funds demanded that companies produce short-term profits, led in turn by their members who wanted spectacular superannuation growth. The way in which greed saps the humanity of the greedy and injures the welfare of ordinary human beings, and of societies, is evident enough. It is less recognised that unfettered greed destroys the conditions under which the market itself can function and under which the greedy can reward themselves. If they are to function, financial markets require confidence. They are based on credit, and we give credit only to people whom we believe to be credible, and only if we believe creditable the processes by which we give credit. If we believe that people in the market are trying to rip us off and can rely on shonky processes to do so, we shall refuse credit. Without credit financial markets collapse. Greed alone does not destroy trust and confidence. But it breeds a fatal lack of responsibility. We accept responsibility for our own gains but refuse responsibility for others’ losses…. Greed is an old notion. It was listed as one of the Seven Deadly Sins by Pope Saint Gregory the Great (Gregory I, pope from 590 to 604). Gregory is acclaimed as one of the four Latin Fathers of the Church and also as one of only 33 saints who have been proclaimed “Doctors of the Church”. The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices, are a list of sinful tendencies in people which destroy the life of grace and create the threat of eternal damnation. There have been some variations in the names

used in the English translation from the Latin but these vices, which lead us to reject God are: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. This list of sins also features prominently in the central epic poem of Italian literature, Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, written between 1308 and 1321. This 14,000 line epic is divided into Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory) and Paradiso (heaven). Dante passes through the gates of hell which bear an inscription of which the ninth, and final, line says: “Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate” (Abandon all hope you who enter here). In his poem, Dante moves through the seven terraces of Purgatorio and each terrace purges one of the seven deadly sins – on the fifth terrace it is greed. Excessive concern for earthly goods, whether in the form of greed or extravagance, is punished and purified. Andrew Hamilton concluded his article: “Greed is part of the human condition. It does not offer salvation. That is something altogether different and better.” In Paradiso, Dante goes on to list the four cardinal virtues of fortitude, justice, temperance and prudence and the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love. The Divine Comedy is not all fear and punishment. There is a balance. My concern is that too many people no longer balance those things which are good for humanity against those that are cancerous. Their attitude is to do what they hope will bring instant gratification and effectively refuse to identify anything as a vice or as sinful. Hence, the financial crisis where the greed of some creates innocent victims of others. In a more modern idiom, the search for more than immediate gratification, has been expressed in the words of the twenty-two year old songwriter, born of Italian-American parents, Stacey Orrico in her song, “There’s Gotta Be” (More to Life). She wrote and sang, in 2003: “There’s gotta be more to life… Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me I’ve got the time and I’m wasting it slowly Here in this moment I’m halfway out the door Onto the next thing, I’m searching for something that’s missing I’m wanting more…” At the end of 2003, Stacey Orrico, did not want to pursue her career but, instead, chose to work with her best friend in a fish and chips shop in her home town of Seattle. She is now back performing but in 2007 she travelled to South Africa to help children suffering from AIDS, obviously looking for more from life than just money (greed) and success (pride). Never has the need for values-based education been greater. The current financial crisis is hurting many people, not so much the man with a hundred million who has seen his fortune halved, but the humble retirees who have worked and saved to create a secure old age and now face uncertainty. There is no justice here. The gluttony and greed of some people can destroy the lives of others just as devastatingly as the more recognizable vices of lust and laziness. Bishop Oscar Romero stated: “Aspire not to have more but to be more.” Wonderful advice! That is why our Lasallian social justice initiatives are so important. It is not enough for De La Salle to turn out good students who go on to successful careers: we must produce “men for others”, men with a conscience who value work rather than laziness, who offer genuine love rather than lust, who place sharing before greed and selfishness and who are filled with hope rather than futility. Yes it is good to be positive but sometimes we have to point out the negative to bring the positive into focus. One may not like the label “Seven Deadly Sins” but let us not hesitate to point out vice and sin when they arise. The modern sin of corporate greed is destructive of our society — and in this modern world of global economics, sends ripples of gloom and despair around the planet. Good education has never been more necessary. I believe our staff members demonstrate strong social consciences which find admirable reflection in our student body. I wish to thank you the parents for being so supportive of the various initiatives to share our gifts. I especially wish to thank the Deputy Principal, Peter Riordan, for his cheerful and considerate leadership. He has enjoyed loyal and generous support from our Heads of Campus, Steve Young and John McAlroy who have discharged their responsibilities very capably. Together with the Deputy Heads of Campus, Doug Esler and Brian Long, and with the various Directors and Coordinators, they have provided excellent leadership in the delivery of Lasallian education. The leadership offered by College Captain, Ben Nethersole, and the other College Leaders has contributed greatly to the life of the College. The Year 12, 2008, leaders have been outstanding and will be remembered as very positive, sensible and enthusiastic. The sporting successes and leadership of our graduating class have been exceptional and we are hopeful this success will also be marked by deservedly good academic results. We are proud of who they are and have high expectations for their future. I think it noteworthy that consistent with our determination to provide high quality facilities for learning, we have completed our three-year project to install data projectors in all classrooms and will complete the air-conditioning of all teaching spaces that require it before school resumes next year. We anticipate occupation of the new classrooms at Kinnoull in time for the opening of the 2009 school year and completion of the new Kinnoull theatrette and canteen by the end of February, 2009. I invite you to enjoy reading the pages of this Blue & Gold which reflect so well the vigour and vitality of our College. Special thanks to all who have contributed, and especially to our dedicated editor, Jonathan Hewett.