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.
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Possibly, but there is no right to a private education. This child is guaranteed a right to a public education, that is all. The child is not going to be denied an education if she does not get admitted to this Catholic school - she is guaranteed admission into the public system. So you cannot make a case for a denial of rights here.
I think I would be hard pressed to come up with a more stupid, asinine statement. I'm an ex-Catholic, but even I know that what the Catholic church teaches regarding sexual morals is no where even near what this woman is teaching her child at home. Her desire to become part of a Catholic community again would seem to be contingent on her abiding by the Catholic church's teachings (and it certainly wasn't any different when she was a child). Sheeesh!!!
It's started.
Almost right on cue, too.
What a fitting end to what's become known as the "Gay Summer," eh?
Why who'd a thunk it!! :o)
This crap's become so doggone predictable of late.
...anticipating 'em's really no *fun* anymore.
In a hypothetical situation where they weren't in a lesbian relationship, the school should probably admit the child. I have to support the school to stand by its principles and refuse to admit a child of a lesbian couple, although I do feel sorry for a child caught in a confusing situation such as that.
As it is, there is nothing to preclude the lesbian couple straightening up their act, but few seriously consider that option. It is reverse hypocrisy. If her catholic religion meant anything to her, she wouldn't be living in a lesbian relationship.
I think they are pushing the envelope and it ain't about their kid being in catholic school.
Lesbian "couple"? More like a couple of lesbians with an agenda...
If Oregon tries to tell a Roman Catholic School whom it must admit in spite of the way of life of two bull dykes sticking their noses or whatever in where they do not belong, then you may look forward to the expulsion of Inkman from the parish (which ought to occur in any event) and any parish of the diocese together with her "wife," the prompt discipline of any termite in O'Hara Catholic School's structure (O'Hara?????? What kind of name is that for a school of St. Mary's parish???) who gives aid and comfort to these perverts, and, perhaps, the public excommunication of anyone involved on their side who deludes him/herself into imagining him/herself Catholic.
Bishop Gelineau of Providence, Rhode Island, upon learning that the Executive Director of Planned Barrenhood in that state not only claimed to be Catholic but had also enrolled her daughter in a parochial school there publicly excommunicated the mother for involvement with Planned Barrenhood and ordered that the child be expelled from parochial education unless and until her mother's resignation from Planned Barrenhood and public repentance. Bishop Gelineau was not a very orthodox bishop in many ways but he was not going to put up with this sort of guff. AND the law says he did NOT have to put up with it.
Let Portland's archbishop step up to the plate and do what has to be done. Tell the miscreants they have entered a No Kumbaya Zone and make it stick.
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