Chaput says he understands the pain and grief.
"I have the same responsibilities for the family of the church as they have for their own family, and if we can't afford to do something we've been doing for years, we've got to stop," Chaput said.
What has to stop is the bleeding of red ink. The Archdiocese says it has too many seats and not enough kids.
Just as carmakers and other industries shutter underutilized plants to survive shrinking sales, the Archdiocese says it must now shut down 25-percent of its schools.
Its high schools have capacity for 31,000 kids, but enrollment is just 16,000.
"It is for the common good and for the good of every individual because if we don't have schools, every individual who would go to that school would suffer," Chaput said.
Schools, formally appealing the closing order, question the Blue Ribbon Committee's numbers and conclusions.
The Archbishop says yes, he can imagine a successful appeal and yes, an individual closing order could be reversed, but such an appeal would have to be compelling, not a promise.
"It has to be based on facts and it can't be based on hopes," Chaput said.
The window of opportunity to appeal is expected to close on February 1st with a final decision by mid-February.
