Posted on 06/22/2016 7:27:00 PM PDT by ebb tide
Two teens raised by a lesbian couple and attending a Catholic school in Edmonton, Alberta have complained against a religion teacher for allegedly telling the students in class that homosexuals can’t reproduce and that they are not married according to Catholic teaching.
The Edmonton Catholic school board has now removed the teacher from the school - temporarily, at least for the time being - and launched an investigation into the allegations.
When students Tayler and Tyrus Allen told their mom, Elyssa Allen, and her partner Leigh Sylvester, to whom she is legally married, about the class given by 32-year veteran teacher Albert Felicitas at Archbishop O'Leary High School last month, the couple decided to take action, telling the teens to complain to the school principal, reported Edmonton Journal.
Allen said that while she is aware that the Catholic Church does not recognize her marriage, she "can’t accept such overt anti-gay messages being taught," in the words of the Journal.
A number of Catholic students also from the school told the Edmonton Journal that the words of their religious teacher about homosexuality got them “fairly angry” and that they “didn’t sit well with me.”
“It got me fairly angry. In these times, we should be able to accept that homosexuals do exist and they should be able to marry and do the same thing that straight couples do. It was very alarming,” said student Mario Bacic.
LifeSiteNews contacted Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith, but spokeswoman Lorraine Turchansky said that the archbishop would not be making any comment on the matter.
Felicitas said that the complaint about his class was a “total shock” to him.
“I’ve taught the course many times … I have received glowing evaluations from students,” he said.
Felicitas said he was simply teaching the position on marriage and sexuality as put forward by the Canadian Catholic bishops in a document.
Felicitas also protested the interpretation being put on his remarks, including claims that he said homosexuals don't deserve love.
"Everyone is made for love and to be loved and everyone is capable of love, no matter what gender choice you have,” he said.
When the Edmonton Journal asked students about their opinion of the teacher, some complained about his “hatred of abortion, even in cases of rape.”
The Catholic Church teaches that since every life is sacred, and abortion is wrong in any instance, including in the case of rape.
When LifeSiteNews contacted the board on Friday to ask for details, spokeswoman Lori Nagy replied that the investigation had been completed, but it would not release any findings.
“As with all personnel matters, we respect the privacy of the teacher involved and do not release findings publicly,” she said.
Attempts by LifeSiteNews to reach Felicitas were unsuccessful.
Felicitas told the Edmonton Journal two weeks ago that being a math teacher in today’s pro-homosexual climate was safer than being a religion teacher.
“Teaching religion, if you really want to teach it properly, it’s risky. I’d rather teach math because five times five is always going to be 25,” he said.
Both are indisputably true statements.
Lefties can’t handle the truth.
Yup.
Speaking the truth is no longer acceptable.
Why would anyone send their students to a Catholic school if they do not following the teachings of the Catholic church? They either need to send them to a public school or home school them. This is just ridiculous.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If you choose not to, don’t go there. It’s called respect.
Exactly.
What allegations? That homosexuals can't reproduce and the Church does not recognize their faux "marriage"?
Both are unequivocally true so they may be in for a bit of a surprise.
Anyone know which side the Pope will decide to support?
These students will some day have the opportunity to argue directly with Jesus.
Publicly issue some mush about how they don't support that statement, but then hold a multi-cultural diversity fair at the local mosque to prove their PC bona fides.
“Teaching religion, if you really want to teach it properly, it’s risky. I’d rather teach math because five times five is always going to be 25,” he said.
Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever. If you want to teach religion, teach the Bible without any spin. Any church or church affiliated school doing otherwise is committing apostasy. Living for Jesus does not go without risk. . .but the rewards are “out of this world.”
How much longer is God going to let this blasphemy continue in this country?! I know. . .only the Father knows :)
Behead those believing the Earth is round. This is leftist shariah
...and searching for truth is no longer desirable.
My point exactly. The last imam of Saudi Arabia called for beheading those who did not believe Earth was flat. The left is ridiculius. It prefers the barabas barbaric Bs of islam than truth. The writing is on the wall, death is what they have chosen
I think no longer accepted is probably more apt. Some of us still desire it, and perhaps even more than we give credit on that desirability.
It sound good in concept, but these Catholic schools are run by elected Catholic school boards as civil authorities and don't really function the same way your parish schools do here in the U.S. The schools might best be described as "state church" organizations.
Should have qualified it by saying “liberals / Democrats / Socialists” do not desire truth. Vis-a-vis Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, and so forth.
This guy is either an eternal optimist, or he's delusional. LOL.
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