This is 300 students, not some group of rabble. The loss of 300 students would destroy any Catholic school I know, and if they pulled your suggestion on me I’d be out the door and encourage my co-protesters to do the same.Looks to me like a very good time for the administration to instruct the teachers to schedule tests, assign papers, etc, and to let the students know they’ll have to live with the grades they get or don’t get on those things.
Seem to me like a probable group of know-it-all kids (likely with know it all parents) who are more interested in being trendy than they are in being Catholic.
But do their “principles” trump their future college plans? My guess is that their personal ambitions trump all. “Trendy” does not improve a college application when a disaster semester is on one’s transcript.
Time for term papers and exams due right after Christmas break!
Responding to the bolded here, maybe we need to re-think these contracts. Yes, homosexuality is disordered and homosexual acts are immoral. BUT we are also supposed to love the sinner. And we’re supposed to encourage everyone to come to God, right?I’d say let 'em sit. I don’t think the administration has to put pressure on papers and tests since, as oldcelt pointed out, ***that bit of aggression might be enough to send kids packing. ***Just let them whittle their grades away and suffer the consequences down the road w/o being explicitly aggressive. Yeah, I know it would be a pain to allow this, but there doesn’t seem to be an “easy way out.”
Boredom and parental pressure ended many of our experiments in Democracy. I was a well-known organizer, so I was usually the one talking to the principal and superintendent after it was all over.I’d say let 'em sit. I don’t think the administration has to put pressure on papers and tests since, as oldcelt pointed out, that bit of aggression might be enough to send kids packing. Just let them whittle their grades away and suffer the consequences down the road w/o being explicitly aggressive. Yeah, I know it would be a pain to allow this, but there doesn’t seem to be an “easy way out.”
All good points worthy of consideration. Rash action is never the solution.Responding to the bolded here, maybe we need to re-think these contracts. Yes, homosexuality is disordered and homosexual acts are immoral. BUT we are also supposed to love the sinner. And we’re supposed to encourage everyone to come to God, right?
Well, by firing beloved school staff what message are we sending and how will the next generation feel about Catholicism? The staff fired will always be upset at the Church and much less likely to come around and the kids who see this happen will resent the Church, the teachings of the Church, and be less likely to stay Catholic or to convert in the case of non-Catholics who attend. Not to mention the whole thing might leave a bad taste in the mouths of parents who were considering sending their kids to a Catholic school.
If we truly loved the sinner would we fire him or her or should we let them continue working, gently try to lead them away from their sin, and show by example what it means to be loving and compassionate? Literally a life lesson. Some people commit grave sin and we are called to love those people and to try to help them reach God.
I realize someone is going to scream “What about the example being set by the teacher/Vice Principle, whatever?” Well, it’s not like homosexuality is contagious. The love the sinner despite their sin concept is pretty easy to explain. And showing youth who might be homosexual that the Catholic Church is there for them, cares about them, and wants to help them is a darn sight better than sending the message that the only community who will welcome them is the secular one.
well the termination of the contract before the Christmas break is terrible PRAll good points worthy of consideration. Rash action is never the solution.
Sure is, and entirely unnecessary.well the termination of the contract before the Christmas break is terrible PR
Yes there is, but I thought “brainwashing” was a little harsh…There is another term for indoctrination.
Well, I would hope that contract clauses can be enforced. Catholic schools ought to hire practicing Catholics as teachers and administrators, and have an enforceable morals clause. After all, the Church requires a Baptismal sponsor to be a practicing Catholic, with a letter of recommendation from their pastor.Yes there is, but I thought “brainwashing” was a little harsh…
Another thought on this subject…this “beloved” and popular vice principle (who held the teachings of the Church is such low esteem) was gay.
I wonder how much influence he had on the students…
I wonder how much influence he had on the teachers and their curriculum.
Apparently a lot… to cause such a fuss. My guess is that he spread a pro gay, anti Church agenda throughout his tenure at that school. He indoctrinated those kids.
Where was the archdioceses all this time? They hired this guy.
I am getting really fed up with this stuff. The U.S. senate just voted for a gay rights bill.
Homosexuals now have the right to sue an employer any time he doesn’t hire or promote them, or any time he fires them.
These laws and privileges are not granted to others, especially Christians. They are designed to be used against Christians.
So this vice principle will probably win a hefty law suit against the Church.
The only way Catholic schools will be able to avoid being sued is to find a secret way to not hire homosexuals, or to always promote them and never fire them. Otherwise, they will have to embrace legal costs.
Originally Posted by Ridgerunner View Post
Looks to me like a very good time for the administration to instruct the teachers to schedule tests, assign papers, etc, and to let the students know they’ll have to live with the grades they get or don’t get on those things.
Seem to me like a probable group of know-it-all kids (likely with know it all parents) who are more interested in being trendy than they are in being Catholic.
But do their “principles” trump their future college plans? My guess is that their personal ambitions trump all. “Trendy” does not improve a college application when a disaster semester is on one’s transcript.
Time for term papers and exams due right after Christmas break!
I agree with Ridgerunner.This is 300 students, not some group of rabble. The loss of 300 students would destroy any Catholic school I know, and if they pulled your suggestion on me I’d be out the door and encourage my co-protesters to do the same.
There must be a substantial amount of parental backing or this would have never taken off. Either that, or these kids have real guts…good for them.
I have more faith in ambition, including parental ambition, than you, my friend. No offense. I think they would see to their own interests, and maybe its best that they ponder the fact that the world is pretty unforgiving of directionless ideological fervor.This is 300 students, not some group of rabble. The loss of 300 students would destroy any Catholic school I know, and if they pulled your suggestion on me I’d be out the door and encourage my co-protesters to do the same.
There must be a substantial amount of parental backing or this would have never taken off. Either that, or these kids have real guts…good for them.
Agreed, as well as the parents. I’d give them a chance via educating them on the Catechism, and inform the parents as well. I’d also inform the parents that they need to help reinforce the Catholic teachings to their children, because once they have been “educated” on what the faith teaches, and the proper role of Catholic educators, the excuse of ignorance will be gone, and they will then be dealt with much more harshly.We shouldn’t completely blame the kids for being ignorant about their faith when the diocese, in part via the school, bears some responsibility in educating them about their faith.
I think the diocese should be both firm and understanding here, and should use this as a teaching opportunity since they clearly have an interested audience.
Umm, I know an awful lot of practicing Catholics whose personal lives would make you have nightmares. They keep their private lives private when it comes to Mass attendance, outwardly appear to be fine upstanding Catholics, and no one is the wiser. Among them are men and women who engage in bisexual activity, a couple who have been married over 20 years and are swingers, a few who are unfaithful to their spouses, and a bunch that think abortion, gay marriage, and contraception are a-ok.Well, I would hope that contract clauses can be enforced. Catholic schools ought to hire practicing Catholics as teachers and administrators, and have an enforceable morals clause. After all, the Church requires a Baptismal sponsor to be a practicing Catholic, with a letter of recommendation from their pastor.
I don’t see why we should put Catholic young people at risk by putting them under the jurisdiction and authority of those who do not believe in or practice the Faith.
And none of those examples if made public, should be anywhere near educating our children in the faith. There are enough people who do try and follow the precepts of the faith to fill these positions.Umm, I know an awful lot of practicing Catholics whose personal lives would make you have nightmares. They keep their private lives private when it comes to Mass attendance, outwardly appear to be fine upstanding Catholics, and no one is the wiser. Among them are men and women who engage in bisexual activity, a couple who have been married over 20 years and are swingers, a few who are unfaithful to their spouses, and a bunch that think abortion, gay marriage, and contraception are a-ok.
If we can’t let personal lives be personal I guess we need to go back to having priests and nuns teach.
I can’t imagine why the people you describe continue to go to Mass on Sunday, if their private lives involve rejection of Church teaching and morality. It doesn’t sound as though they are making attempts at repentance. And if that is the case, their children will not be Catholic either, no matter how much they try to hide their private lives. For practical purposes, they are raising them as pagans.Umm, I know an awful lot of practicing Catholics whose personal lives would make you have nightmares. They keep their private lives private when it comes to Mass attendance, outwardly appear to be fine upstanding Catholics, and no one is the wiser. Among them are men and women who engage in bisexual activity, a couple who have been married over 20 years and are swingers, a few who are unfaithful to their spouses, and a bunch that think abortion, gay marriage, and contraception are a-ok.
If we can’t let personal lives be personal I guess we need to go back to having priests and nuns teach.
For those of you who’d care not to read the link, it’s a petition trying to get the USCCB to change the Church’s stance on marriage. Again, very confident.And then this happened. Confident, that’s all I have to say about it.