Furor at Catholic high school after nun presents Church teaching on homosexuality

CHARLOTTE, NC, April 2, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A North Carolina Roman Catholic school is holding a meeting today to address the concerns of parents and students who say they are outraged about remarks a visiting nun made criticizing homosexuality, divorce, and sex outside of marriage during a recent speech.

Dominican Sister Jane Dominic Laurel, who often speaks to high school and college-age students on matters of sexuality, gave an hour-long presentation to students at Charlotte Catholic High School on March 21 called “Masculinity and Femininity: Difference and Gift.” School officials told the Catholic News Herald she spent about half her allotted time discussing homosexuality, blaming its rising influence in part on fatherless homes created by divorce and extramarital sex.

Sister Laurel is a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, often called the Nashville Dominicans, which is an order known for its fidelity to the Magisterium.

Although the Catholic Church has always held both homosexual behavior and sex outside of marriage to be gravely sinful, students and parents at the Catholic school reacted to her remarks with shock and anger, launching both an online petition and a letter-writing campaign calling the sister’s words “offensive and unnecessarily derogatory.”

“We the students of Charlotte Catholic High School would like to issue a formal complaint regarding Sr. Jane Dominic’s speech given on on [sic] Friday, March 21st,” the petition begins. “We found some of ideas [sic] expressed to be both offensive and unnecessarily derogatory. We are incensed that you knew the content of this speech and allowed these ideas to be expressed in a school that should be preaching a message of love and acceptance.”

“As rational people, we know that most homosexual people lead healthy, normal and productive lives like their heterosexual counterparts,” the students wrote. “We resent the fact that a school wide assembly became a stage to blast the issue of homosexuality after Pope Francis said in an interview this past fall that ‘we can not [sic] insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptives [sic] methods. We are angry that someone decided they knew better than our Holy Father and invited a speaker who addressed the issue of homosexuality to our school to speak twice in the course of one school year.”

Students weren’t the only ones outraged by the sister’s remarks. Parents have supplemented the students’ petition with an e-mail campaign targeting the Diocese of Charlotte, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Vatican with complaints about Sr. Jane’s speech.

“In my home, there was outrage, embarrassment, sadness, disbelief, and further reason for my 16-year-old to move as far away from her religion as possible and as soon as she can,” wrote divorcee Shelley Earnhardt, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Another letter sent to school officials and signed by current students and alumni said, “Last week’s presentation represents a betrayal of trust. Your responsibility to provide nurturing and informative education to the students of Charlotte Catholic was shrugged off. Your mission to truthfully convey the teachings of the Church—the teachings of love, compassion, and humility—was replaced by teachings of hate and intolerance.”

Parents, alumni and students involved in the petition and letter writing campaigns are demanding that the school and Church apologize.

But not all students were upset by the nun’s presentation. A group of students who adhere to Catholic teaching on sexuality have launched a counter-petition condemning the protesters’ actions. “We are outraged that the topics talked about are being debated within a community where the shared faith teaches us what truly is holy and that anyone would stand up against a nun, who has given her life for the Lord, and blantly [sic] deny God's teachings,” the petition reads.

The students defending Sister Jane say, “We believe that every human regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation, should be treated with love and respect.” They add, “We accept homosexual men and women into our community with open arms.” But they explain, “We do not approve of homosexual marriage or activities, because we understand that it is against the Holy Bible. … We believe that it is important to discuss these topics so that the young people of today may better understand righteousness and God's divine will.”

Reaction from local Church officials has been largely supportive of Sister Jane.

Fr. Tim Reid, pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church, sent out a mass email which said in part, “She represented well the Catholic positions on marriage, sex, same-sex attraction and proper gender roles. … The Church has already lost too many generations of Catholic schools students to … a very muddled and watered-down faith.”

Fr. Roger Arnsparger, diocesan vicar for education, stated, "Our students are bombarded with confusing messages about sexuality. Our task in religious formation is always to help people understand the meaning of love and relationships."

Although Sister Jane has the backing of the local bishop and clergy, she has withdrawn from another planned speaking event in Charlotte which had been scheduled for May during the 2014 Diocesan Youth Conference. Fr. Arnsparger announced the change in a statement today, and said Sr. Jane’s mother superior, not the diocese, had made the call.

"I completely understand the decision of Sister’s Mother Superior that the timing is not right for her to make a return visit to the diocese,” Arnsparger wrote. “It was very thoughtful of Sister Jane to withdraw from this planned speaking engagement as the Diocese of Charlotte deals with the concern of parents of Charlotte Catholic High School students. Sister Jane Dominic has been a frequent speaker throughout the country and we look forward to learning from her in the future."

The April 2 meeting will take place in the school’s gym. Representatives from both the school and the diocese will be on hand for the discussion.

Diocese of Charlotte Phone: (704) 370-6299 E-mail: chancery@charlottediocese.org

Since I’m a Jew there is no such thing as the “Devil”. I’m not sure what you think I’m lying about.

Evenings for the Engaged? Ours was a group class there was a some mixed faith couples and even one that included an athiest. We talked about things a lot of people prolly don’t discuss before they get married; expectations, the future, even the Church’s opposition to birth control and why they oppose it. The average person who thinks that is silly might change their mind if they heard the whole explanation.

A Deacon presided over a (for lack of a better term) “joining” ceremony where we vowed to all who was in our presence to be true and faithful to each other. Who also agreed to raise any children Catholic.

I do not seek to hijack marriage as the homosexual Mafia seeks to do. I do not believe the church should change its stance on social issues.

I am not a Catholic so your comments don’t really apply to me, but my spouse is, there are many Catholics in good standing that have committed the 7 deadly sins, as far as I know being a lesbian is not one of them. Are you saying she and our children should be excommunicated for this. We both acknowledge homosexual is not normal and she goes to confession at least twice a month.

Just for the record we do not bring up our kids to be homosexual. We expect our boys to meet nice girls and get married and have a family someday. We hope our daughter will meet a good man and also marry and have a family someday. Although I prefer that she not get interested in boys until shes 40 but that is a pipe dream.

Bottom line, I don’t blame you for your mistrust of homosexuals. A vast majority are degenerate and depraved and very dangerous to society. Homosexual men are more than likely pedophile sexual predators, and homosexual women hate men and hate themselves and are very unhappy intolerant people. I do not hate men, in fact my father is the greatest man I have ever known. He protected me and kept me safe. He is my greatest role model. But I am still all woman.

What tree trunk spat you out?

OK, got me- among my many habitual sins I stick old wads of chewing gum under seats. At least I do so because its better than smoking, or is it? Am I seriously vexing the janitor? Am I being too scrupulous? Oh no!

Homosexuality is an abomination most thoroughly condemned in Holy Writ and traditional teachings. There are minor sins (venial), grave (mortal) sins but among the latter especially there are those against nature ( there are those privately against the self but far worse those that involve others then those that move into adultery...) and probably far worse those against Church Sanctity (term I use for brevity) but its Sunday AM here and thoughts of abominations in sacrileges, witchcrafts etc (Eph 5 such they are a shame to be spoken of) could ruin the day. I’m shuddering typing this.

Something had to understand about the end Romans 1 condemnation that ....well:

“...and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them.”

The context of the Levitical condemnations...just incredible some who call themselves “christian” give you some kind of support.

Do you sympathize with the Log Cabin Repubs?

D’ya know that Abe Lincoln slept in another man’s bed once in a while because that’s where visitor’s slept in those days when all there was was one bed in a little house?

You’re whacked because you practice an abomination.

Try this:

The Jewish Question [Kindle Edition]
Civilta Cattolica (Author), E. Michael Jones (Introduction)

20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007BSCYOE

Civilta Cattolica on The Jewish Question with an extended Introduction by E. Michael Jones. One hundred years after the French Revolution, the editors of Civilta Cattolica, the official voice of the Vatican on political affairs, came to a startling conclusion: any country that turns away from laws based on the teaching of the Catholic Church and God’s eternal law will end up being ruled by Jews. These three articles, originally published in 1890, explain in detail why this is so, both for France in 1890 and for America today. The assertion that Jewish political power derives from usury could have been written with Occupy Wall Street in mind. $3.99. Read More/Buy
http://www.culturewars.com/ebooks.htm

You have obviously not read a single word I posted.
I am not a Democrat or an Occupy Wall Street activist.

I do not support log cabin fake republican democrats. I do not buy any of the myths that get put out calling American heroes homosexuals, that includes Abraham Lincoln.
I oppose the homosexual agenda in its entirety, that includes homosexual marriage and adoption of children. I oppose teaching homosexuality in schools (sexuality in general but especially homosexuality).
I am opposed to abortion in all cases. It is a holocaust against babies.
I am pro 2nd Amendment. I have a CCW.
Congress shall make no law... and shall not be infringed... are very clear and unambiguous.
If you read my response to this article about the nun I agreed with her. Everything she said was accurate.

If there is anything to listen to and understand it is this. A vast majority of homosexuals are a product of environment. Homosexual men were either molested by a man or they were a social outcast that just didn't fit in and because homosexuality is more seemingly mainstream they chose to be homosexual. If they are not going to fit in being homosexual is a good excuse and misery loves company so other homosexuals will accept them. Homosexual men are dangerous and are more tan like pedophile predators.

Homosexual women were also victimized by men more than likely, there is very little documentation of adult women molesting little girls. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but its rare. They to are also social outcasts as they are usually very unattractive and don't typically get along with men or women.

Then there are those like me, a very tiny fraction of the homosexual population. I truly was born this way bit, I experienced no sexual assaults and was not an outcast of any kind. Unlike most homo women I do not hate men or myself for not being a man. I look like a woman, I dress like woman, I act like a woman, in fact if you met me or a homo like me you would never know we were homo.

They project their overt, stereotypical mannerisms and appearance so there is mistaking who they are. It is so that they are immediately judged (for lack of a better word)
It is why politicians can rile them up and and make them vote as a block, by appealing to their need for acceptance.
They are told (all victim groups just change a few words), you are normal, you have been wronged, you are owed what straight people have. What do straight people have? Marriage What is Marriage? Its the beginning of a family, the cornerstone of society derived from Biblical teachings from the Old and New Testament. To the left (democrats, fascists, communists, socialist whatever they are all the same to me) they are a Trojan horse. A means to destroy the cornerstone of society, a means to destroy Liberty.

I find your obsession with my “abomination” curious. We probably agree on 99% of issues yet you focus on the one thing that has the least amount of impact on anybody.

I signed up here 2-4 years ago, I forget. I lurked.
This might be my last post. I came to exchange ideas with like minded people from various perspectives. Ultra Conservative (dare I say) Lesbian.

Yet in a post where I defend a nun for espousing accurate Church views on homosexuality and agreeing with her assessment then going so far as to warn people about the dangers of homosexuality, and I get called a wacko and asked if I support log cabin pukes and if I believe Abe Lincoln is a fudgepacker. With the exception of your overly judgmental overtones and name calling you might be a devout albeit misguided Christian. But to ask me such stupid questions tells me you didn't read a thing a I wrote sounds like the practices of a mainstream media reporter and not an informed conservative that does his due diligence. I realize everyone here is opposed to homosexuality which is fine, I don't blame you. Do me a favor, before you start name calling like a child, address the substance of the post. But read it first.

I read your posts before I posted.

Well did you get flushed out by the Log cabin ref?

You certainly sound very competent, sincere, thoughtful et el. Indeed homosexuality has everything to do with societal breakdown.

Father Paul Marx of Human Life International said The Pill would accelerate homosexuality.

There can’t be 10 of you in the US. How in the world do you function?

You are saying you forgot you entered FR or came in sporadically as a lurker? Which is it, or is it that you’ve lightly lurked say the last few months?

There is NO SUCH THING as a born homosexual. Haven’t you been through Narth.org or drjudithreisman.org among others?

God would not imbue in or even allow debilitated DNA to provoke (whatever word you like) sin (that word can’t change, OK?) so greatly against nature (aka abomination). The same can be said for the alcoholism “gene” in my book.
What say you of Tourette’s Syndrome?

The Good God above is not the author of sin. Homosexuality is one of the very greatest sins.

Stick around. Seek the Truth.

http://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/n010rp_Homosexual_%20St.%20Cath.Siena.htm

Homosexuals Cause Nausea to Our Lord
and Are Despised Even by the Devil

Saint Catherine of Siena, the great 14th century religious mystic, transmitted the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ about the sin of homosexuality, which contaminated some of the clergy in her time, the Renaissance.
Referring to sacred ministers who committed this sin, He told her:

Our Lord speaking to St. Catherine of Siena

They [the homosexuals] not only fail from resisting the weakness [of fallen human nature] .... but they do even worse when they commit the cursed sin against nature. Like the blind and stupid, having dimmed the light of their understanding, they do not recognize the disease and misery in which they find themselves. For this not only causes Me nausea, but is disgusting even to the devils themselves whom these depraved creatures have chosen as their lords.

For Me this sin against nature is so abominable that for it alone five cities were destroyed by virtue of the judgment of My Divine Justice, which could no longer bear their iniquity ....

It is disgusting to the devils not because evil displeases them or because they find pleasure in good, but rather because their nature is angelic and flees upon seeing such a repulsive sin being committed. For while certainly it is the devil that first strikes the sinner with the poisoned arrow of concupiscence, nonetheless when a man actually carries out such a sinful act, the devil goes away.

(St. Catherine of Siena, El diálogo,
in Obras de Santa Catalina de Siena, Madrid: BAC, 1991, p. 292)

“Well did you get flushed out by the Log cabin ref?”

I do not consider log cabin republicans to be republicans. I am not sure how I can be any clearer on that I oppose the homosexual agenda, the log cabin republicans do not.

“Father Paul Marx of Human Life International said The Pill would accelerate homosexuality.”

I have no idea who this or what the pill is. Homosexuality is accelerated by social breakdown at or just before puberty, it is simply another escape when one isn't accepted into the “traditional” peer groups or molestation has occurred or some other abuse.

“There can’t be 10 of you in the US. How in the world do you function?”

I do not know what you are referring to here.

“You are saying you forgot you entered FR or came in sporadically as a lurker? Which is it, or is it that you’ve lightly lurked say the last few months?”

I said I registered 2-4 years ago. I don't remember the exact date. I checked in often. I post on and off although until the last week I had not posted since 2012.

“There is NO SUCH THING as a born homosexual. Haven’t you been through Narth.org or drjudithreisman.org among others?”

If you say so. Although I can point to rare occurrences in nature to where it happens. I'm not sure what makes you an expert on biology, genealogy, or my life. It is your opinion and I'll accept it as such. Even in nature there are exceptions to the rule. I'll point to birth defects as an example.
I do not know what narth.org is or djudithreisman.org is.
I can only assume they are Christian scientist that make your argument for you. Just like there are scientists that say man made global warming exist, I choose to believe that man made global warming is a hoax and point to my scientist that make my argument.

“God would not imbue in or even allow debilitated DNA to provoke (whatever word you like) sin (that word can’t change, OK?) so greatly against nature (aka abomination). The same can be said for the alcoholism “gene” in my book.
What say you of Tourette’s Syndrome?

The Good God above is not the author of sin. Homosexuality is one of the very greatest sins.

Stick around. Seek the Truth”

Considering the fact I oppose homosexuality being accepted as normal or be taught in schools to indoctrinate your children into it, and I oppose homosexuals hijacking marriage, and I oppose pedophilia, and abortions. My kids are raised as Catholics, our family has a very close relationship with our Church. Why do you care so much about who I spend the rest of my life with and raise my family with? Why are my sex organs and how they are used outweigh everything else. Seems a bit obsessive to me.

For the sake of argument lets say I agree with you, I am an abomination and when I die, I will spend eternity with a red guy with pointy ears horns and a pitch fork underground where the temperatures are just a bit warmer than they are in Arizona where I live, I am out fighting against the same enemies you are. I fear the same destruction of my country and way of life by the same sub humans you do. Yet you are fixated on something that has no impact on anyone other than me. Perhaps your sexuality rules your worldview. It does not rule mine.

Just for the record, I am a Jew and regardless of what you and other Christians believe your not the final authority when it comes to God or God's will. To believe otherwise is pure narcissistic arrogance

You may want to keep an eye on that Pride sin, the holier than thou attitude I doubt looks very good on a Christians resume when they are judged at the pearly gates. Unlike homosexuality, that sin is like one of the 1st 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights. I am all for a friendly debate and disagreement, but I will not accept Biblical judgment being passed upon me by the likes of anybody unless you can walk on water or heal the sick or give sight to the blind. You don't decide who goes to Heaven, and while I admire your conviction, I also recognize it as weakness when communicating to others. But nonetheless I appreciate it.

The Pill as in birth control pill. If you were a pro-lifer as you claim you should know what I mean.

Rev. PM was doubtlessly saying that once the procreative act is loosed (it was loosed before with all artificial bc, now its is chemically hyper-loosed) from God’s primary intention there is no real reason to hold to ANYTHING moral concerning sex. You have some very good insights into many “environmental” causes for homosexual drive (how the heck have you NOT run into narth or Reisman?) but we are talking what causes YOU to hold to YOUR positions...the backdrop of your early years.

You remind me of the analogy that one can point a fantastical powerful gun at the moon and, trying to hit it with a fantastical bullet, miss by a literal hair’s breadth thus to ride off into infinite disappearing space.

When I say you there can’t be ten of you in the US I mean ten unapologetic lesbians (or whatever you qualify as your plight) with such stances. Heck, you might be the only one.

Jewish lesbian mother raising her children Catholic. Ah the scourge of mixed marriages...all loosed by the apostate Vatican 2 “council”- the “revolt” of 2 Thess 2 [3] Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

When did you “come out”? The scandal to your children’s innocence is incalculable.

Alas, they wouldn’t be so different than the minions being plied with the tolerance poison and appear ‘well adjusted’, eh?

It was a masonic-communist-HOMOSEXUALIST conspiracy that so corrupted the Vatican 1960’s. It was roundly prophecised at La Salette among other CHURCH approved Marian Apparitions.
Malachi Martin among others spoke of a homosexualist “superforce” in Rome before he died.

As Rome goes so goes the world.

Christ Have Mercy

THE GREATEST CONSPIRACY (Communist infiltration of the Church)
Christian Order ^ | November 2000
Posted on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 2:37:42 PM by narses
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/804825/posts

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.