Posted on 08/29/2003 1:08:25 PM PDT by bicycle thug
A lesbian couple has complained to the Eugene Human Rights Commission and the Oregon Child Care Division, alleging that O'Hara Catholic School refused admission to their 4-year-old daughter because of their sexual orientation.
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.
Bert declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Portland. O'Hara issued a statement that said the school does not discriminate on the basis of "race, color, national and ethnic origin" in admissions, but "cannot comment on decisions of academic placement for any specific student."
The Rev. Mark Bachmeier of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the parish priest who oversees O'Hara, also refused to discuss the matter.
"I think we'll just let that statement speak for itself for now," he said.
Inkmann, a 43-year-old business owner, said she has attended and paid dues at St. Mary's since January after a long absence from the church.
"I feel called to respond to my parish and the local parish school because of my developed Catholicism," she said. "I want my daughter to receive a Catholic education that will be in keeping with her teachings at home, and I want to become part of a Catholic community again like I was when I was a child."
The Human Rights Commission assigned an advocate, Neil Van Steenbergen, to the case, with the hope of ironing things out between the two parties.
But O'Hara officials did not wish to meet with him, Inkmann said. On Wednesday, she said, Bachmeier told her the final answer was no.
Steenbergen said neither he nor the Human Rights Commission can provide legal advice.
"My role as an advocate is not to do the work for the person involved but to listen and explore options and help that person come to some resolution," he said.
The city's ordinance prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, city contracting and public accommodation on the basis of a list of characteristics, including actual or perceived sexual orientation.
Inkmann said she isn't sure she wants to send her daughter to O'Hara now, but wants to ensure other families have the right to do so.
She asked that her daughter not be named because she fears possible reprisals for her stand. Her partner also declined comment.
Whether a private school falls under the mantle of "public accommodation" is open to interpretation, but Dave Fidanque, executive director of the Oregon American Civil Liberties Union, says it should.
A Catholic school, he said, "is essentially a business that provides service to the public at large."
"For instance, Catholic Charities doesn't only provide services to Catholics, it provides services to people who are needy," Fidanque said.
"We could argue that the church cannot discriminate in either its employment or acceptance of students."
Fidanque said the school also might be vulnerable under state law that prohibits discrimination by state-certified, extended-day preschools on the basis of the parents' marital status. Inkmann has complained to the state Department of Employment's Child Care Division, which is awaiting an opinion from the state Attorney General's Office on whether the school may be out of compliance.
But Fidanque said he hopes O'Hara will reconsider.
"What they're about is providing a quality education for all children that come to them," he said.
"I'm confident there are students from all types of families at O'Hara school, and this would not be any big deal for other kids and families."
That's true for Shan and Mikayle Anderson, whose daughter will start preschool at O'Hara next week. Their girl and Inkmann's daughter attended preschool together at the YMCA. The Andersons sent an e-mail to the school supporting Inkmann's family.
"As a concerned parent, I didn't think it was appropriate policy," Shan Anderson said. "I don't think a kid should be ostracized because of the perceived failings of their parents, whether it's sexual orientation or marriage or fidelity or past criminal behavior. The Catholic religion I was brought up in was about forgiveness and acceptance."
In a check of admissions policies elsewhere, several other private Catholic schools in the Portland area did not return calls or referred questions to the Archdiocese of Portland.
Maurice Healy, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, said no formal policy exists in his region regarding admissions of children with gay parents. He's never heard of any similar conflicts arising, he said.
"I imagine there are children in the schools with homosexual parents," he said.
Anselmo Villanueva, who was principal at O'Hara from 2000 through 2002, said his personal philosophy is one of inclusiveness.
"My thing on sexual orientation is that's not for me to decide if it's right or wrong," said Villanueva, now principal at Adams and Hillside elementaries in Eugene. "My thing in education is to teach all kids."
But homosexuality is anything but an easy topic for the Catholic church, he said.
"The church is really wrestling with this stuff now," he said.
Obviously Shan skipped confession and penance. People like this are simply non-violent terrorists on a mission from .....
A Catholic school, he said, "is essentially a business that provides service to the public at large."They'd love to make our Catholic school, "public businesses," but the relevant question is, Mr. Fidanque, who is paying the operating costs of the school? The parishioners, that's who and they don't want their children perverted by your likes!! So go F*@K OFF!!!
There are mutitudes in the U.S. that will believe this rot.
In other words, if you as a parent felt your child needed this, you are supposed to be out of luck in Eugene because military stuff angers and scares many liberals here.
I hope that's true, but to my surprise it turns out our local parochial school takes federal funds for buying 'technology' equipment (i.e., computers for the classrooms).
If Catholic schools accept federal funds, seems to me they might be liable to federal dictates regarding 'discrimination.'
First of all- I am not aware of any "requirement" to pay dues as a member of a church. One makes an offering, preferably a tithe, which is placed on the Altar of the Lord, in acknowlegement that blessings flow from Him. You don't pay dues like a country club, to guarantee a tee time. This phrase establishes both the author's lack of knowlege and the attitude of the "believer."
"I feel called to respond to my parish and the local parish school because of my developed Catholicism," she said. "I want my daughter to receive a Catholic education that will be in keeping with her teachings at home, and I want to become part of a Catholic community again like I was when I was a child."
Apparently, something when sadly wrong when she was receiving her Christian education. I sat through years of CCD, and I know for a fact that humility and obedience are stressed as a vital part of faith, in particular, the examples of the lives of the saints, obedient unto death- like St. Thomas More. In the seventies, the Catholic Chruch even adopted a bunch of "protestant songs" for Folk Mass. Old saws like "Trust and Obey..." This woman is my age and I can't imagine that our education was so different.
And finally, where the HELL does the ACLU get off threatening a religious organization for practicing its religious freedom??
At home the kid is being taught that lesbian "marriage/union" is an accepted way of life and this woman expects the Catholic church to teach her kid the same as well?
It would be interesting to know if this progressive lesbian business owner adopted the kid or made the ultimate sacrifice and gave birth to her herself?
Obviously, Ms. Inkmann's Catholic upbringing didn't stick.
You're probably right but unfortunately, the first time their daughter comes home and says "Mommies, Teacher says you're sinners," the Oregon ACLU will be suing the school again to change what they teach.
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