Help with heterodoxy situation at my Catholic school

[Trigonometric]

I go to a Catholic high school, but most of my family is not Christian. For the sake of charity, I have to say that they are usually very nice people, so don’t let this situation be your entire image of them.
So here’s the situation, or rather 2 of them: There is one priest at the school, who is very orthodox. He also teaches theology. One of my siblings (not a Christian) often argues with him when he presents Church teaching. Fr., of course, defends the teaching. My parents disagree with the Church and don’t like that he defends the teaching, and I think they want to try to get him in trouble. The principle won’t fire anyone for holding to Church teaching. However, one of my parents might accuse Fr. of being a racist. He’s clearly not, but my parent thinks that his views on other religions make him a racist. They also heard some school staff and some other parents complain about Fr., and part of their argument will be that certain staff/parents don’t like him. Fr. hasn’t actually done anything wrong; the complaints by most of these people are about inconsequential things or even for stuff like having his class pray the Rosary. I don’t want a man to lose his job for doing what’s right. How can I handle this situation?

They’ve also encouraged my sibling to complain about him to other teachers who they think will be sympathetic which leads in to my other situation. One of the teachers they want to complain to is a teacher I had last year who was also heterodox (to the point of once advocating women priests in class while in an argument with some students). I should have reported this to the school (the principle and vice principle are very orthodox and would have handled it appropriately), but at the time I didn’t. I deeply regret this, but this incident happened almost a year ago and I have little proof. I’m not sure what I should do at this point. I don’t want faithful parents to be cheated by this teacher of the fully Catholics education they paid for, and more importantly I don’t want people to be damned because of my inaction.

Can someone give me advice on how to handle this?
Thanks.

 

[1ke]

You stay out of it.

 

[Bezant]

You stay out of it.

Agreed.

 

[DJK100]

With all due respect to the previous posters, I think you should just tell the principle of what you are hearing and what your concerns are. Then let them decide how to proceed. This will give you the assurance that you didn’t just stand by and let someone who you feel is doing a good job be dragged through the mud. Let the principle decide what course of action to do after that and then stay out of it. You don’t need to use specfic names but it would be nice for the priest who is about to be blindsided to at least have the opportunity of a heads up of what is potentially coming his way. Same thing wtith your percieved heterodox teacher. If you feel stongly about it let the principle know what is going on and then let them handle it. It could be the heterodox teacher was trying to get you to think outside the box and/or develope ways to defend the faith by being purposely antagonistic. I don’t know the motives but if it is enough of a concern for you should let someone know so the problem can be addressed through the appropriate channels.

I think this is the proper course of action judgiing by the amount of anxiety you are having now. I would forsee that if something did happen to him and he did get blindsided you would be feeling even worse. At least with this course of action you express your concerns and then let the higher ups deal with it.

Just my two cents.

 

[Irish_Polock]

With all due respect to the previous posters, I think you should just tell the principle of what you are hearing and what your concerns are. Then let them decide how to proceed. This will give you the assurance that you didn’t just stand by and let someone who you feel is doing a good job be dragged through the mud. Let the principle decide what course of action to do after that and then stay out of it. You don’t need to use specfic names but it would be nice for the priest who is about to be blindsided to at least have the opportunity of a heads up of what is potentially coming his way. Same thing wtith your percieved heterodox teacher. If you feel stongly about it let the principle know what is going on and then let them handle it. It could be the heterodox teacher was trying to get you to think outside the box and/or develope ways to defend the faith by being purposely antagonistic. I don’t know the motives but if it is enough of a concern for you should let someone know so the problem can be addressed through the appropriate channels.

I think this is the proper course of action judgiing by the amount of anxiety you are having now. I would forsee that if something did happen to him and he did get blindsided you would be feeling even worse. At least with this course of action you express your concerns and then let the higher ups deal with it.

Just my two cents.

Sound advice.

 

[bmullins]

With all due respect to the previous posters, I think you should just tell the principle of what you are hearing and what your concerns are. Then let them decide how to proceed. This will give you the assurance that you didn’t just stand by and let someone who you feel is doing a good job be dragged through the mud. Let the principle decide what course of action to do after that and then stay out of it. You don’t need to use specfic names but it would be nice for the priest who is about to be blindsided to at least have the opportunity of a heads up of what is potentially coming his way. Same thing wtith your percieved heterodox teacher. If you feel stongly about it let the principle know what is going on and then let them handle it. It could be the heterodox teacher was trying to get you to think outside the box and/or develope ways to defend the faith by being purposely antagonistic. I don’t know the motives but if it is enough of a concern for you should let someone know so the problem can be addressed through the appropriate channels.

I think this is the proper course of action judgiing by the amount of anxiety you are having now. I would forsee that if something did happen to him and he did get blindsided you would be feeling even worse. At least with this course of action you express your concerns and then let the higher ups deal with it.

Just my two cents.

This. Inform the principle either in person or anonymously that someone is purposely trying to draw this professor into situations that will put him in a bad light. Then “You stay out of it.”

Let them handle it, let the teacher have the ability to know he’s being baited that he can make sure he’s standing on church teaching in every presentation.

 

[raaucoin]

Make an appointment to speak to your principle.( if speaking to your parents first is fruitless). I would not , however label any other teacher as “heterodox”. Simply state your concerns regarding this priest who may be unjustly singled out by your family and the fact that they may intend to try to enlist the aid of other teachers.

Approach the situation not as if in judgement of anyone, but as a Christian standing for another in justice.