Tom Birmingham: Tax credit scholarship program would give Catholic schools fighting chance Tom Birmingham I am among the countless individuals whose lives have been shaped by Catholic education; in my case, it was attending high school at Austin Prep. Despite a stellar record, Catholic schools are facing a grim financial picture. But a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision gives new hope to the schools and to the many Massachusetts families with children who would benefit from attending them. Catholic schools use the liberal arts to deliver a classical education imbued with lessons in timeless values that appeal to parents of all religions. That’s why nearly 20 percent of the students who attend Archdiocese of Boston schools aren’t Catholic.