[Omama,Nebraks] Skutt Catholic students show support for gay teacher

[anthony022071]

ketv.com/news/skutt-catholic-students-show-support-for-gay-teacher/32640112

Students from an Omaha Catholic high school used an annual fundraiser Wednesday to show support for a teacher who won’t be teaching there next semester.

Skutt Catholic officials have stood firmly on their decision not to renew Matthew Eledge’s contract. An online petition alleges the decision was made after the speech teacher informed officials about his engagement to his same-sex partner.

“If a staff member cannot commit to Catholic church teachings and doctrines, he or she cannot continue to be on staff at Skutt Catholic,” school president Jon McMahon wrote in a letter to the Skutt community

The petition aimed at changing school officials’ minds has garnered nearly 95,000 signatures since it was launched April 7. >>

ketv.com/news/skutt-president-affirms-decision-to-part-ways-with-gay-teacher/32309678

In a letter to the Skutt Catholic community, school president Jon McMahon writes Skutt administrators “stand firmly” behind a decision not to renew the contract of a teacher who is in a same-sex relationship.

An online petition on behalf of Mathew Eledge says Skutt withdrew an offer to renew his contact, when he told administrators about his engagement to his same sex partner.

“If a staff member cannot commit to Catholic church teachings and doctrines, he or she cannot continue to be on staff at Skutt Catholic,” wrote McMahon.

“As a Catholic school we stand firmly with the Archdiocese of Omaha and our Catholic church in the support and upholding of the Church’s teachings as they are defined,” wrote McMahon.

 

[gam197]

ketv.com/news/skutt-catholic-students-show-support-for-gay-teacher/32640112

Students from an Omaha Catholic high school used an annual fundraiser Wednesday to show support for a teacher who won’t be teaching there next semester.

Skutt Catholic officials have stood firmly on their decision not to renew Matthew Eledge’s contract. An online petition alleges the decision was made after the speech teacher informed officials about his engagement to his same-sex partner.

“If a staff member cannot commit to Catholic church teachings and doctrines, he or she cannot continue to be on staff at Skutt Catholic,” school president Jon McMahon wrote in a letter to the Skutt community

The petition aimed at changing school officials’ minds has garnered nearly 95,000 signatures since it was launched April 7. >>

ketv.com/news/skutt-president-affirms-decision-to-part-ways-with-gay-teacher/32309678

In a letter to the Skutt Catholic community, school president Jon McMahon writes Skutt administrators “stand firmly” behind a decision not to renew the contract of a teacher who is in a same-sex relationship.

An online petition on behalf of Mathew Eledge says Skutt withdrew an offer to renew his contact, when he told administrators about his engagement to his same sex partner.

“If a staff member cannot commit to Catholic church teachings and doctrines, he or she cannot continue to be on staff at Skutt Catholic,” wrote McMahon.

“As a Catholic school we stand firmly with the Archdiocese of Omaha and our Catholic church in the support and upholding of the Church’s teachings as they are defined,” wrote McMahon.

An Online petition could be signed by anyone, yet this is a matter for the Church and it has spoken. It doesn’t matter what the student body wants. The church is not a democracy and if the catholic students think it is, they are ill-formed.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

Good for the school!

 

[Memaw]

ketv.com/news/skutt-catholic-students-show-support-for-gay-teacher/32640112

Students from an Omaha Catholic high school used an annual fundraiser Wednesday to show support for a teacher who won’t be teaching there next semester.

Skutt Catholic officials have stood firmly on their decision not to renew Matthew Eledge’s contract. An online petition alleges the decision was made after the speech teacher informed officials about his engagement to his same-sex partner.

“If a staff member cannot commit to Catholic church teachings and doctrines, he or she cannot continue to be on staff at Skutt Catholic,” school president Jon McMahon wrote in a letter to the Skutt community

The petition aimed at changing school officials’ minds has garnered nearly 95,000 signatures since it was launched April 7. >>

ketv.com/news/skutt-president-affirms-decision-to-part-ways-with-gay-teacher/32309678

In a letter to the Skutt Catholic community, school president Jon McMahon writes Skutt administrators “stand firmly” behind a decision not to renew the contract of a teacher who is in a same-sex relationship.

An online petition on behalf of Mathew Eledge says Skutt withdrew an offer to renew his contact, when he told administrators about his engagement to his same sex partner.

“If a staff member cannot commit to Catholic church teachings and doctrines, he or she cannot continue to be on staff at Skutt Catholic,” wrote McMahon.

“As a Catholic school we stand firmly with the Archdiocese of Omaha and our Catholic church in the support and upholding of the Church’s teachings as they are defined,” wrote McMahon.

I agree with the Archdiocese and McMahon Teachers have a powerful impact on the minds of our young people and if the Catholic Church cannot do their best to protect the minds of our young as best they can, then who else will. Seems to many of the parents don’t take it seriously enough. And the youth are not mature enough to see the consequences. The popularity of the teacher among the kids is NOT what counts in a situation like this. God Bless, Memaw

 

[kozlosap]

The school has every right to their own employment practices. The problem with actions such as this, though, is that it just sends our youth farther and farther away from the Church.

 

[McCall1981]

Thank God for the faithful witness of Skutt Catholic school.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

The school has every right to their own employment practices. The problem with actions such as this, though, is that it just sends our youth farther and farther away from the Church.

It sends the youth who are closed to the truth farther and farther away; however, for those who are not it is a solid example that our actions and choices have real and lasting consequences; and that standing on the principles you espouse is important.

 

[JimG]

An online petition means nothing. If it was limited to students of the particular school, it might have some value, but a general petition is meaningless.

If the students of the school petitioned for a teacher in a same sex ‘marriage’ to be retained, I would have to conclude that the school is not doing a good job of teaching Catholic moral theology.

 

[beleg]

It sends the youth who are closed to the truth farther and farther away; however, for those who are not it is a solid example that our actions and choices have real and lasting consequences; and that standing on the principles you espouse is important.

This is what really bothers me about all this - clearly we need to do a much better job at educating young Catholics before the secular world gets to them.

 

[kozlosap]

Our kids have grown up personally knowing and loving their gay friends and relatives. “That” is their truth. They love the Church but are not going to buy into that particular dogma. : )

 

[Zzyzx_Road]

Our kids have grown up personally knowing and loving their gay friends and relatives. “That” is their truth. They love the Church but are not going to buy into that particular dogma. : )

Knowing and loving one’s gay friends is different from condoning their sin though society often doesn’t see it that way.

As far as driving the youth away from the Church over this issue is concerned, here is an excellent quote from Benedict (emphasis mine):

In my view, a Church which seeks above all to be attractive, is already on the wrong path, because the Church does not work for herself, she does not work to increase her numbers and power. She works for Another. She serves not herself, not to become strong. She serves to make the announcement of Jesus Christ more accessible……

 

[Memaw]

Our kids have grown up personally knowing and loving their gay friends and relatives. “That” is their truth. They love the Church but are not going to buy into that particular dogma. : )

When we think we can pick and choose what Dogma we want to believe then we do NOT have faith in the Catholic Church. Seems that’s a big problem today. Fr. John Hardon S.J. said, “Unless we recover the zeal and spirit of the first century Christians, unless we are willing to do what they did and pay the price they paid, the future of our country, the days of America are numbered.” He also said we need to teach our children the Catholic Faith so as to be willing to die for their Faith. Fr, Hardon’s cause for canonization is in the process. God Bless, Memaw

 

[ProdglArchitect]

When we think we can pick and choose what Dogma we want to believe then we do NOT have faith in the Catholic Church. Seems that’s a big problem today. Fr. John Hardon S.J. said, “Unless we recover the zeal and spirit of the first century Christians, unless we are willing to do what they did and pay the price they paid, the future of our country, the days of America are numbered.” He also said we need to teach our children the Catholic Faith so as to be willing to die for their Faith. Fr, Hardon’s cause for canonization is in the process. God Bless, Memaw

Kozlosap, you are making the common mistake of conflating the person with their sin. I have one particular gay friend that I would trust with my (physical) life. That doesn’t change the fact that I cannot condone his decision to engage in homosexual activities.

If your children do not “buy into” a particular dogma, then they are rejecting the laws of God, and placing themselves as the head and authority of their own personal church. This is no different from what the protestant “reformers” did, nor is it any different from what every heretical “teacher” through history has done. It is a faulty and gravely harmful proposition to believe that you know better than the Church, which Christ ordained to guide his people.

Instead of commending your children for rejecting Church teaching, you should admonish them lovingly, and remind them that their friends are loved by God, but that homosexual activities will always and in every way be intrinsically sinful and should be rejected.

I do not mean to sound rude, but it is your duty as a parent to promote proper formation of your children. You have a moral obligation to pass on the teachings of the church in their entirety, and guide them in the proper understanding of those teachings. The Church teaches that homosexuals are to be loved, but that homosexual activities cannot be condoned. You have an obligation as a Catholic parent to pass this knowledge onto your children and to help them understand it.

 

[QuestLove]

An online petition means nothing. If it was limited to students of the particular school, it might have some value, but a general petition is meaningless.

If the students of the school petitioned for a teacher in a same sex ‘marriage’ to be retained, I would have to conclude that the school is not doing a good job of teaching Catholic moral theology.

This is not necessarily true. And I say this as a non-catholic who teaches the young adults everyday. Clearly this school is upholding what is catholic teaching and firing the teacher. But what we are neglecting as educators and parents is that these students are forming their own ideas based on their peer groups. The average student (even those from devout families) know personally students and teachers who are gay. They hear the message of the church and at school but somehow there is a disconnect between what they they are taught and applying the rule. Studies bear this up, that when you actually know gay people (friends, relatives etc.) you are less likely to disapprove.
Parents are always amazed when they realize their kids students are not necessarily in total agreement with church teaching. I bet if we took a closer look at the students who signed the petition, you would find that many are from very devout homes.

 

[cena]

When we think we can pick and choose what Dogma we want to believe then we do NOT have faith in the Catholic Church. Seems that’s a big problem today. Fr. John Hardon S.J. said, “Unless we recover the zeal and spirit of the first century Christians, unless we are willing to do what they did and pay the price they paid, the future of our country, the days of America are numbered.” He also said we need to teach our children the Catholic Faith so as to be willing to die for their Faith. Fr, Hardon’s cause for canonization is in the process. God Bless, Memaw

:thumbsup:One can’t pick and choose teachings from the Magisterium

 

[JimG]

Our kids have grown up personally knowing and loving their gay friends and relatives. “That” is their truth. They love the Church but are not going to buy into that particular dogma. : )

I am sure that this is true. They have also grown up knowing and loving their cohabiting friends, their friends who do casual hookups, their friends who view extramarital sex as nothing. They have grown up knowing and loving their parents who might have been unfaithful, who traded one spouse for another, who did not intend to keep their marriage vows, whose contraception denied them brothers and sisters. They have probably grown up knowing and loving friends who had abortions, or who helped friends to obtain abortions. They know and love their friends who are addicted to pornography. And they have been told, over and over again, you must not judge.

They are not wrong to love their friends. They are wrong not to love their friends enough to warn them against sin, which can only hurt them.

 

[Brendan]

Our kids have grown up personally knowing and loving their gay friends and relatives. “That” is their truth. They love the Church but are not going to buy into that particular dogma. : )

If the students truly loved this teacher, they would pull out every stop to encourage him to reject the sinful path he has chosen.

Instead, they choose to confirm the damage he is setting out to do to his soul. Encouraging a person when the set out to damage themselves and others is hardly an act of love.

That is why it is the Church who more fully and completely loves their gay friends and relatives than they currently accept