The Catholic school crisis

15 NYC Catholic schools risk closure

"Up to 15 Catholic schools in Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island could be forced to close under a plan announced yesterday that threatens to strip them of large financial subsidies from the New York Archdiocese because of plummeting enrollment.

"These under-enrolled schools require significant financial support from the archdiocese, which cannot be sustained indefinitely," said Dr. Timothy McNiff, schools superintendent for the archdiocese, which yesterday released its list of "at risk" schools.

"We need to allocate our resources where they can do the most good, and support schools that can sustain themselves over time," said McNiff, whose 185-school system is in the midst of a massive reconfiguration."