Mater Dei Official Says Diocese to Push for All-Catholic League

A Mater Dei official indicated Tuesday that the Diocese of Orange favors placing Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, Servite and Rosary into all-Catholic leagues with Orange and Los Angeles county parochial schools.

Father Steve Sallot, Mater Dei rector who also represented the Catholic Athletic Assn. at a realignment meeting, said the diocese is preparing to “assert itself” into the issue of league realignment.

He spoke during a meeting of Orange County principals and athletic directors in Costa Mesa dealing with how to realign Orange County high school leagues for the 1999-2000 school year.

“There will be a consensus . . . on what direction all our schools will go,” Sallot said. “Our desire at Mater Dei is to have a Catholic league with Orange County and Los Angeles schools.”

His remarks contrast the views of a Santa Margarita representative last month. Attorney John Barnett said the school would fight any effort to be moved from an Orange County public school league.

Chief among Santa Margarita’s objections is the amount of travel time needed to bus athletes to games.

“Santa Margarita’s action was taken without the knowledge of the [Orange] diocese,” Sallot said. “Until the diocese superintendent makes a final decision, schools are allowed to express their opinions. But the schools do not make the final decision.”