Inner city Catholic elementary schools have been closing at an alarming rate. White student enrollment has declined because there are fewer students since the end of the baby boom and as a result of the changing racial and ethnic compositions in the inner city. Minority enrollment has also declined because the schools could not, or did not, adapt to changing neighborhoods. The territorial organization of the church limits the ability of diocesan officials to redistribute church income to serve inner city needs. Inner city parishes could survive if the newcomers could be organized as effective parish members. However, this is difficult since recent newcomers are ususally not Catholic or are traditionally inactive Catholics. Inner city parochial schools provide improved educational opportunities for minorities; strengthen families; foster integration; and extend a bridge between the church and non-Catholic minorities. However, if the church does not come to terms with problems of financing, the inner city schools will be lost. (Author/RLV)