[Denver] Catholic school boots student with gay parents [AP]

[kelvinf]

The time spent to single out children of gay parents could be used to root out gay priests who are degrading the image of the Catholic Church and Christ’s teachings in the first place.

 

[redrosetea]

Catholicism isn’t a club or a democracy it is a lifestyle…These people are flaunting a basic tenet of our faith…If you aren’t going to live in a way that says I am faithful to scripture, why send your kids to a Catholic school…If confuses the kids and the other students

 

[canadianguy1143]

Let alone mocking Christ’s teaching on divorce (as some have said). **Sin is Sin. Sodomy is not a bigger sin than divorce and vice versa. **

We shouldn’t deprive a child from catholic education because of what his/her parents are. The benefits of this child partaking in catholic education shouldn’t be undermined.

This is an unfortunate decision.
Anyway, history will tell.

Emphasis mine. I have to disagree with that part. Some sins are more serious (bigger) than others. Is stealing a quarter the same as murder?

As for depriving a child from their Catholic education, you seem to think that education ends at home. It doesn’t. The fact that this child has lesbians assuming a parental role will GUARANTEE that the child won’t get a Catholic education at home.

 

[eichenb2]

The time spent to single out children of gay parents could be used to root out gay priests who are degrading the image of the Catholic Church and Christ’s teachings in the first place.

What do you mean by “gay”? If you mean those who have a deep-seated tendency to be attracted to the same sex, then the Church cannot root out priest, as this tendency is not sinful. If a Priest is engaged in relationship that includes homosexual activity, this is rooted out if it becomes know.

I would suggest you study the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

 

[kelvinf]

Emphasis mine. I have to disagree with that part. Some sins are more serious (bigger) than others. Is stealing a quarter the same as murder?

As for depriving a child from their Catholic education, you seem to think that education ends at home. It doesn’t. The fact that this child has lesbians assuming a parental role will GUARANTEE that the child won’t get a Catholic education at home.

There are just so many children of catholic parents who unfortunately don’t get catholic education at home. If we want to consider what goes on at homes before enrolling students, then…

 

[kelvinf]

If a Priest is engaged in relationship that includes homosexual activity, this is rooted out if it becomes know. (QUOTE]

Much work still needs to be done in that area. We don’t need to be defending all the time. I am personally fed up with the scandals.

I would suggest you study the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

 

[redrosetea]

The time spent to single out children of gay parents could be used to root out gay priests who are degrading the image of the Catholic Church and Christ’s teachings in the first place.

If they are living celibately and faithful to scripture they aren’t degrading anything…

 

[redrosetea]

Read scripture Sodom was destroyed because of this sin ,and the entire tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out because of it

Read St Paul…read the Didache…it has always been a forbidden act

 

[eichenb2]

There are just so many children of catholic parents who unfortunately don’t get catholic education at home. If we want to consider what goes on at homes before enrolling students, then…

Good point. The collapse of the “domestic church” has been catastrophic. However, watering down the moral teaching of the Church, by avoiding discipline (BTW - Discipline is related to the word Disciple) of scandal is NOT the way to revitalize the “domestic church”.

 

[katy]

There are just so many children of catholic parents who unfortunately don’t get catholic education at home. If we want to consider what goes on at homes before enrolling students, then…

That isn’t the point. I could try to explain it but the pastor himself does a better job. For instance, divorce is not something that people have parades about, it is considered a tragedy. If divorced parents were promoting parades to celebrate divorce and call for divorce ceremonies in the Church, there would be the same problem.
This whole scenario makes me think it was a set-up either for protests as they happened, or later, if the school was not “compassionate”, and had the nerve to uphold the Church’s teaching on homosexual behavior.

 

[eichenb2]

That isn’t the point. I could try to explain it but the pastor himself does a better job. For instance, divorce is not something that people have parades about, it is considered a tragedy. If divorced parents were promoting parades to celebrate divorce and call for divorce ceremonies in the Church, there would be the same problem.
This whole scenario makes me think it was a set-up either for protests as they happened, or later, if the school was not “compassionate”, and had the nerve to uphold the Church’s teaching on homosexual behavior.

That was my thought too.

 

[Hypatia]

Post 91:

You demonstrate repeatedly in your replies, that you do not understand the primary purpose of Catholic education, which is not to provide additional options for non-believers. It is to provide a refuge for Catholic values within an academic setting. As any Catholic school has room for those who are not Catholic but have agreed in writing to abide by, and uphold the teaching of, what is taught in those classrooms, that school will welcome the family – and again I stress, family [see my earlier reply for an explanation] – that accepts Catholic schooling on those terms.

It’s not for you or for any other non-Catholic to decide that you or they are on an equal footing with Catholics who seek a traditional Catholic environment. There are Catholic schools in some cities where the student body is 65+% non-Catholic, but it doesn’t change the religious or the values curriculum one iota.

You should also read the clergy’s further response on the incident, which was posted by another poster who used an excerpt from that publication as the thread opener. That clerical response specfically refutes the points you made in Post 91.

As I have said, Catholics are legally free to do what they wish, admit whomsoever they wish, expel as arbitrarily as they wish. But do not think that the people who have participated in and supported Catholic schools are not going to react, and a significant number of those people are non-Catholic. Up until now non-Catholics have been more than welcome and have, as you note, often made up a bulk of the clientele. I think we are all very interested in whether or not that is going to change.

Second, I have never suggested that the presence of non-Catholics in Catholic schools should change the religious curriculum of those schools. In fact, I don’t believe that at all. I don’t see any danger in having a child exposed to Christianity even when they aren’t Christian and it runs counter to the beliefs of the family.

If Catholic schools are going to become places where not only are Catholic beliefs taught to the students, but assent to those beliefs are demanded from the families, obviously, Catholic schools will become decidedly less appealing to non-Catholics. I do not think that is what most schools want or what their clients understood themselves to be signing up for when they signed the admissions policy…at least until now.

I have read and responded to the priest’s statement and a couple of his sermons, to the media statement and to the bishop’s column (#87, #84, #81, #77 and #70).

So far this seems like an unnecessary and bigoted exercise of power (however legal). If the main source of this couple’s ‘open discord’ with the Catholic school and the parish was that they were a lesbian couple, acting like a couple would with their child and one another, then one would expect to see non-Catholics and divorced-and-remarried couples subjected to the same treatment. That this is has not been the policy of Catholic schools suggested simple bigotry, not the application of Catholic norms. Nothing in the statements from the priest or bishop has given us any reason to think otherwise. They have not explained what made this couple so unique that their children and this family were singled out when no one doubts that there are many other families in these schools who are openly living in ways, and openly practice faiths, that run counter to Catholicism.

======

For instance, divorce is not something that people have parades about, it is considered a tragedy. If divorced parents were promoting parades to celebrate divorce and call for divorce ceremonies in the Church, there would be the same problem.

The reason no one is having parades about divorce is because no one needs to. It is universally legal and culturally acceptable and most people think this is a good thing. Most people certainly don’t think it is sinful to get divorced and remarried. No one is hiding divorce.

If this school REALLY wanted to be “prophetic” and demonstrate Catholic values with respect to marriage, and show that the Catholic Church does not and cannot accept these adulterous unions, they would expel the children of divorced-and-remarried parents as well. THAT would certainly be taking a stand against the culture and showing commitment to Catholic principles. But I wouldn’t hold my breath for that.

 

[redrosetea]

A Catholic School is a religious school teaching the tenets of our faith…It is not the same thing as a private school

They are largely supported thought a parish church…to teach children the Catholic faith among other things

How is this bigoted? If you don’t go along with this you are a free agent send your children elsewhere…We are not going to deny our teachings just to make someone happy

 

[rlg94086]

As I have said, Catholics are legally free to do what they wish, admit whomsoever they wish, expel as arbitrarily as they wish. But do not think that the people who have participated in and supported Catholic schools are not going to react, and a significant number of those people are non-Catholic. Up until now non-Catholics have been more than welcome and have, as you note, often made up a bulk of the clientele. I think we are all very interested in whether or not that is going to change.

I predict little or no reaction vis-a-vis enrollment. Liberals squawk, but they would still rather send their kids to a quality Catholic school than to the public schools they favor politically for “other people.”

Unless things have changed in Colorado, they could use some thinning. My kids were on our parish school waiting list all four years we lived there. There was no preference given to Catholic families. How dumb is that?! Anyway, anyone who doesn’t respect the Church can pull their kids out of their school. Do it! Get out!

Those who respect the Church are welcome to stay.

 

[eichenb2]

As I have said, Catholics are legally free to do what they wish, admit whomsoever they wish, expel as arbitrarily as they wish. But do not think that the people who have participated in and supported Catholic schools are not going to react, and a significant number of those people are non-Catholic. Up until now non-Catholics have been more than welcome and have, as you note, often made up a bulk of the clientele. I think we are all very interested in whether or not that is going to change.

Second, I have never suggested that the presence of non-Catholics in Catholic schools should change the religious curriculum of those schools. In fact, I don’t believe that at all. I don’t see any danger in having a child exposed to Christianity even when they aren’t Christian and it runs counter to the beliefs of the family.

If Catholic schools are going to become places where not only are Catholic beliefs taught to the students, but assent to those beliefs are demanded from the families, obviously, Catholic schools will become decidedly less appealing to non-Catholics. I do not think that is what most schools want or what their clients understood themselves to be signing up for when they signed the admissions policy…at least until now.

I have read and responded to the priest’s statement and a couple of his sermons, to the media statement and to the bishop’s column (#87, #84, #81, #77 and #70).

So far this seems like an unnecessary and bigoted exercise of power (however legal). If the main source of this couple’s ‘open discord’ with the Catholic school and the parish was that they were a lesbian couple, acting like a couple would with their child and one another, then one would expect to see non-Catholics and divorced-and-remarried couples subjected to the same treatment. That this is has not been the policy of Catholic schools suggested simple bigotry, not the application of Catholic norms. Nothing in the statements from the priest or bishop has given us any reason to think otherwise. They have not explained what made this couple so unique that their children and this family were singled out when no one doubts that there are many other families in these schools who are openly living in ways, and openly practice faiths, that run counter to Catholicism.

======

The reason no one is having parades about divorce is because no one needs to. It is universally legal and culturally acceptable and most people think this is a good thing. Most people certainly don’t think it is sinful to get divorced and remarried. No one is hiding divorce.

If this school REALLY wanted to be “prophetic” and demonstrate Catholic values with respect to marriage, and show that the Catholic Church does not and cannot accept these adulterous unions, they would expel the children of divorced-and-remarried parents as well. THAT would certainly be taking a stand against the culture and showing commitment to Catholic principles. But I wouldn’t hold my breath for that.

Please let me apologize in advance. I mean no personal discourtesy.
With all due respect, though, you, simply, are not familiar enough with Catholic moral theology or Church discipline to a offer anything close to a reasonable response on this issue. There are actually more fallicies than I can deal with now. After reading through the posts, I believe that most of your concerns have been addressed sufficiently. While your concern for what you percieve as justice is commendable, this issue is, in fact, not an issue of injustice. The Church has a general mission with is to save souls. The school, in question, has a more specific question mission to educationally aid the students in become saints. Lesbianism is a mortal sin, if engaged with knowledge of its gravity, and the Church (speaking through the Bishop) has decreed that this would be a scandal and counterproductive to the goal of educating the children morally. Catholic schools have historically better that public schools because of the viewed the moral education of children to be intricately connected to the intellectual education. This holistic and Holy view of education must not sacrificed to the political agenda of the irrational and unnatural “gay rights” crowd. By the way, it appears that you are a Muslimah. If indeed you are, why not work with us. We Theists need to work together to keep US a place were practice of religion is free.

 

[irishpatrick]

So many Catholic parishes and schools/institutions have been accepting sin for so very long, that this story is news today.

30-40 years ago hardly even a soul would be even be the least bit surprised that a Catholic school was being “Catholic.”

“There will come a day when right is called wrong, and wrong is called right…”

 

[eichenb2]

So many Catholic parishes and schools/institutions have been accepting sin for so very long, that this story is news today.

30-40 years ago hardly even a soul would be even be the least bit surprised that a Catholic school was being “Catholic.”

“There will come a day when right is called wrong, and wrong is called right…”

How True!

 

[irishpatrick]

How True!

Very sad actually and a major sign of the times.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

If a Priest is engaged in relationship that includes homosexual activity, this is rooted out if it becomes know.

Yes and no. Its “rooted out” in the sense that the priest would have a meeting with his bishop and told to end the activity and perhaps might spend some time on spiritual retreat or psychological counseling. But the priest will not be “rooted out” of the priesthood unless there’s a continuing problem.

But you are correct that simply having a homosexual orientation is not sinful and is not of particular interest to most diocese.

 

[eichenb2]

Yes and no. Its “rooted out” in the sense that the priest would have a meeting with his bishop and told to end the activity and perhaps might spend some time on spiritual retreat or psychological counseling. But the priest will not be “rooted out” of the priesthood unless there’s a continuing problem.

But you are correct that simply having a homosexual orientation is not sinful and is not of particular interest to most diocese.

Thank you for the clarification, Father