Gay couple protests after Catholic school denies daughter's entry

The Olympian ^ | 8/30/03 | AP

[I_Love_My_Husband]

EUGENE, Ore. -- A lesbian couple alleges that O'Hara Catholic School refused admission to their 4-year-old daughter because of their sexual orientation.

The couple has complained to the Eugene Human Rights Commission and the Oregon Child Care Division.

One of the women, Lee Inkmann, said O'Hara Principal Dianne Bert told her in mid-August that having a family with two mothers at the school would confuse other children, and that gay unions are in conflict with Vatican teachings.

[GirlShortstop]

How about the South Pole?

LOL    Maybe they can take a family vacation to wherever the Taliban is taking up residence these days.  Then upon their return, these "ladies" can drop their zeal for getting government involved in religious matters.

[ChemistCat]

The little girl is just a little girl. She is four, right? She is not a pervert, nor (by my religion's teachings) is she accountable for any sin yet. Do Catholics believe she is accountable for her sins--or her parents'? I don't know what Catholics teach, but what I'm seeing on this thread makes me wonder if what has happened with the molesting priests really is an aberration. Infant damnation is a doctrine which offends me, and all the more if SOME children are being cast off without a chance. Sorry, kid, your parents are from the wrong side of the moral tracks, so you just go off--we will not take you in.

Are Catholics clear on what Jesus said about children? "Suffer the little children to come to me and forbid them not...!"

I don't remember anything in there where He stopped to ask the sexual preferences of the parents.

[Jorge]

Actually, the school should probably admit the kid; it may be her only chance for normalcy.

Yeah..I don't get why the school would want to punish a kid for her parent's problems.
I think this is a really stupid and counterproductive decision by the Catholic school.

[Cultural Jihad]

Apparently the school is just for parents who actually love and care for their children, not for those perverts who use their children as political pawns.

[ChemistCat]

Schools are for parents?

Maybe that's true for people who send their kids to public schools so they can go back to bed and sleep all day, then party all night, driving a new car. Those of us who want to pay tuition at a private school aren't doing it for ourselves. And most of us are giving up quite a bit, materially, to do this.

[Cultural Jihad]

Okay, please allow me to rephrase that: "Apparently the school is just for the children of parents who ..."

[ChemistCat]

I don't mean to nitpick. I just don't see why the parents' choices make their daughter unworthy to attend a religious school. They could not be worthy members in a Christian religion, but their daughter is not guilty of anything!

[GirlShortstop]

I don't get why the school would want to punish a kid for her parent's problems.

Which mommy would that be?   I notice that you've admitted here that there is a home PROBLEM.  Perhaps if you'd like to "side with" the lesbians, you can offer a reason why these two would *want* to foist a Catholic education on the child?  The Church's stance (and surprise! what the schools are to teach) is anathema to their "lifestyle" choice.

I think this is a really stupid and counterproductive decision by the Catholic school.

Yeah, an evangelist kindergartner is going to set mommies *straight*... we sure missed that opportunity!  NOT.

[Cultural Jihad]

True, but the presence of perverted parents coming to collect their child would become a source of scandal. I imagine that word would get out that one was not an aunt or an older sister or neighbor. A Catholic school is not there to assualt their innocence.

[madison10]

Therefore, with the greatest confidence I implore your powerful assistance for the whole Church Militant. Protect, in a special manner, with true fatherly love, the Sovereign Pontiff and all the bishops and priests in communion with the See of Peter. Be the protector of all who labor for souls amid the trials and tribulations of this life; and grant that all the nations of the earth may submit with docility to that Church out of which there is no salvation.

AMEN! and I'm not even Catholic. If they go after one part of the family they will go after us all.

[savagesusie]

So that they can later file a lawsuit, claiming that their daughter is being psychologically harmed by being told that homosexuality is wrong. They want it declared a hate crime to do so.

Like in Canada--where they have a large fine also.

[Jorge]

Jorge "I don't get why the school would want to punish a kid for her parent's problems."

Which mommy would that be? I notice that you've admitted here that there is a home PROBLEM.

Yes, "parent's problems" could be interpreted as "a home PROBLEM".
Brilliant.

Perhaps if you'd like to "side with" the lesbians, you can offer a reason why these two would *want* to foist a Catholic education on the child? The Church's stance (and surprise! what the schools are to teach) is anathema to their "lifestyle" choice.

The Church's stance is "anathema" to divorce, contraception and a host of other things which Catholics commonly ignore.
I know plently of people who are not even Catholic, who send their kids to Catholic school.

The idea that these kids should be banned like poison from school because some holy roller hypocrites want to punish them for their parent's shortcomings is mean spirited, short sighted and a poor Christian testimony.

[ChemistCat]

Unless they were obnoxious about it, I don't know why it would ever have come up till at least junior high age. Kids in private schools are supposed to keep their innocence, and stay CHILDREN, longer. That's part of the reason we pay the tuition.

I've never heard the F word used at my kids' private school, and they have kids attending through the 8th grade. They dress and act like children--respectful, courteous, interested children. Not sullen teens acting out.

And they don't need to know anything about the sexuality of the adults who take care of them.

[Cultural Jihad]

From the article:

---

Bud Bunce, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Portland, said multiple factors were involved in not accepting the child, but he said he could not discuss the specific reasons the girl was not admitted.

He did, however, say, "The school did not make the nontraditional lifestyle of the parents the issue. The parent did."

---

[GirlShortstop]

The idea that these kids should be banned like poison from school because some holy roller hypocrites want to punish them for their parent's shortcomings is mean spirited, short sighted and a poor Christian testimony.

So, you insist that the problem and punishment is on the part of the Catholics?  You call it short-sighted, I see something else deeper on your part.  Re-read the article and tell me where the realy hypocrisy is.

I shall ask again, would you point out WHAT the lesbians were hoping to achieve here with a Catholic education THAT IS ANATHEMA to their lifestyle/family structure?

[sarasmom]

Ther is no "right" to force a private Catholic school to admit a student.
What part of "private" do you not understand?

[GirlShortstop]

... tell me where the real hypocrisy is.

[Tokhtamish]

But O'Hara officials did not wish to meet with him...

How sweet to my ears those words are. God's word is not negotiable. May God bless and keep in his loving care these Christians who are determined to stand firm in His name against militant paganism.

[GirlShortstop]

How sweet to my ears those words are. God's word is not negotiable.

AMEN!

[sarasmom]

And your point is?