text: As regards those small stipends paid to religious, I believe (and someone please correct me, if needed) that salary was also supplemented by room and board.  And wasn't this supposed to be a ministry?  In my opinion, the abandonment of the Catholic school system has had two very serious consequences: 1) The familiarity of religious  that attracted vocations and kept communities young and earning has disappeared.  2)  It has significantly contributed to the 'dumbing down'  of America.  So many religious created a monumental legacy of service only to see much of it crumble in front of their aged and incredulous eyes, and were tremendously deserving of aid.  I do not wish to diminish the wonderful service being performed by some religious today; although, I do think that working for a government paycheck is more of a job than a ministry. Giving a first-rate education to a large population who would not otherwise have it?  Priceless.