Posted on 03/09/2010 7:48:47 AM PST by NYer
.- Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver weighed-in today on the recent decision to not re-enroll the child of a lesbian couple in a local Catholic school. The archbishop explained, “If parents don’t respect the beliefs of the Church, or live in a manner that openly rejects those beliefs, then partnering with those parents becomes very difficult, if not impossible.”
Staff members at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Boulder, Colorado were told early last week that that an attending preschooler, whose two parents are women, would not be re-enrolled for the following semester.
After mostly negative media coverage, Archbishop Chaput dedicated his weekly column in the Denver Catholic Register to addressing the decision to not offer enrollment to the Boulder, Colo. preschooler.
The Denver archbishop began by discussing the historical background of Catholic schools in America, which he explained were founded in the 19th century “as an alternative to the public schools of the day, which taught a curriculum often hostile to Catholic belief.”
“In many ways times have changed, but the mission of Catholic schools has not,” the prelate stated. “The main purpose of Catholic schools is religious; in other words, to form students in Catholic faith, Catholic morality and Catholic social values.”
The archbishop explained that “Many of our schools also accept students of other faiths and no faith, and from single parent and divorced parent families. These students are always welcome so long as their parents support the Catholic mission of the school and do not offer a serious counter-witness to that mission in their actions.”
“Our schools, however, exist primarily to serve Catholic families with an education shaped by Catholic faith and moral formation. This is common sense,” he added. “Other religious traditions do the same according to their beliefs, and at a heavy sacrifice. We need to remember that Catholic families pay twice for a Catholic education: through their taxes, they fund public education; then they pay again to send their children to a Catholic school.”
Therefore, the “idea that Catholic schools should require support for Catholic teaching for admission, and a serious effort from school families to live their Catholic identity faithfully, is reasonable and just,” Archbishop Chaput noted.
He also wrote that the “Church never looks for reasons to turn anyone away from a Catholic education. But the Church can’t change her moral beliefs without undermining her mission and failing to serve the many families who believe in that mission.”
“If Catholics take their faith seriously, they naturally follow the teachings of the Church in matters of faith and morals; otherwise they take themselves outside the believing community,” he explained.
Archbishop Chaput also stressed that the “Church does not claim that people with a homosexual orientation are 'bad,' or that their children are less loved by God. Quite the opposite. But what the Church does teach is that sexual intimacy by anyone outside marriage is wrong; that marriage is a sacramental covenant; and that marriage can only occur between a man and a woman.”
“These beliefs are central to a Catholic understanding of human nature, family and happiness, and the organization of society,” he said. “The Church cannot change these teachings because, in the faith of Catholics, they are the teachings of Jesus Christ.”
In light of this, the “policies of our Catholic school system exist to protect all parties involved, including the children of homosexual couples and the couples themselves,” said the prelate.
“Our schools are meant to be 'partners in faith' with parents. If parents don’t respect the beliefs of the Church, or live in a manner that openly rejects those beliefs, then partnering with those parents becomes very difficult, if not impossible.”
“It also places unfair stress on the children, who find themselves caught in the middle, and on their teachers, who have an obligation to teach the authentic faith of the Church,” he added.
Archbishop Chaput concluded his remarks saying that “Most parents who send their children to Catholic schools want an environment where the Catholic faith is fully taught and practiced. That simply can’t be done if teachers need to worry about wounding the feelings of their students or about alienating students from their parents. That isn’t fair to anyone – including the wider school community.”
“Persons who have an understanding of marriage and family life sharply different from Catholic belief are often people of sincerity and good will. They have other, excellent options for education and should see in them the better course for their children.”
To read Archbishop Chaput's column, visit: http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/3560
He is absolutely right! Were this school in the UK, they would probably be forced to accept the child and teach about homosexual sex.
Of course he’s right, and honestly if the School is rejecting re-admission of this child its more likely because these “parents” are looking for a soapbox and confrontation more than anything else.
I’m not Catholic, but that is one excellently written response.
It should be the right of any private school to discriminate as they see fit, especially based on belief.
Private entities also should be able to discriminate based on income, race, and sex as they see fit. You want a “blacks-only” organization? You’ve got it. You want a “female-only” private club? You’ve got it.
When I hear ads for “The United Negro College Fund” being offered as free Public Service Announcements on the radio, I am reminded that some groups are promoted and protected in the same way that all should be.
I wonder, is it the media who has complained, gays, Catholics, or just people in general? If any of the above doesn’t like the schools decision, they need to read the above statements from the Bishop. If they still don’t like it they can go pound sand.
Exactly why would this “couple” want to send their child to a school that teaches Catholic values - including that their “relationship” is incompatible with God’s design? Are they so cynical that they are using their child as a pawn to push their political agenda, or are they so disconnected from God’s word that they think scripture is a minor matter that a court could order the Catholic Church to change?
That is exactly true. My sister, a third grade teacher in a big Catholic school said that the parents who least follow the faith are the biggest trouble makers and ALWAYS threatened to sue!
“Persons who have an understanding of marriage and family life sharply different from Catholic belief are often people of sincerity and good will. They have other, excellent options for education and should see in them the better course for their children.”
Wow the recognition of real diversity. The left won’t like that.
I respect the Catholic Church’s right to decide its admissions policy any way it wants but I don’t think they thought this one out very well. Here they have an innocent child who they can teach traditional values to who needs just such an education. Assuming that the parents are paying the child’s tuition, which the Church would need to maintain its school, it would seem that this whole issue is a non sequitur.
Good for them, and good article.
You know how the media likes to parse statements and spin them into a controversy. That is how this story emerged, in bits and pieces, all woven into media manipulated news. Hence, Archbishop Chaput decided to address this through a catholic news agency, stating facts and his position.
excellent position
That is what “private school” means
However, the local Catholic schools take pains to advertise they do not discriminate on basis of faith (?)
Protestant and Jewish are OK?
“Here they have an innocent child who they can teach traditional values to .. “
No, they can’t.
Not without the support, consent, and involvement (example) of the parents.
That is the point.
Here they have an innocent child who they can teach traditional values to who needs just such an education.
We are in a legal world where feelings count more than facts. As such, the Archdiocese is merely managing their assets in accordance with legal risk. Consider if the childs’ mommas both decide that she is being discriminated by not recognizing and equivicating the childs family status when the school teaches the Catholic ideal of family. Can they sue - sure. Will they win - not likely. Will it cost the Church money - you betcha. Avoiding this obvious risk is a moral choice. The child will at some point in her life wonder what the right answer is. At that point she can remember her exposure to the Christian faith and decide accordingly. I am personally suspicious of a same sex couple choosing a Catholic school for their daughter. Methinks the mommas have smaller fish to fry than the moral education of their daughter. Diversity cannot be allowed to exist to the left.
I feel extremely sorry for the child involved because as the Bishop has said, the child will be caught in the middle and confused if this is allowed. It’s a tuff thing to have to deal with.
**“Our schools are meant to be ‘partners in faith’ with parents. If parents don’t respect the beliefs of the Church, or live in a manner that openly rejects those beliefs, then partnering with those parents becomes very difficult, if not impossible.” **
Way to go, Archbishop Chaput. I nominate this archbishop for a red hat!
**The left won’t like that.**
That’s nothing new to Archbishop Chaput. The dimocrat party ostracized him from their convention a couple years ago.
The Chaput put out a similarly well-worded condemnation of their pro-abortion policy as a part of the dimocrat’s party platform. That’s why you can say that any one who votes dimocrat supports abortion — it’s in their party platform!
You know, maybe that wouldn't be all bad. If young people got the details about homosexual activities while they're at the age when they don't even want to know why the cat's having kittens, they might grow up to be less sentimental about "fairness" to "committed gay couples" who just want equality.
Aversion therapy, as it were.
I am telling you, in my experience, and I’ve been dealing with Catholic Schools for years, they don’t generally reject a child because of a parents lifestyle choices, in fact, often they take the perspective that at least HERE in this school they will get the Godly world view they need. Catholic Schools I have dealt with do not look for reasons to reject children re-admittance.
If a school asks a child not to return it is generally because the child is after much attempts to work with, too unruly or problematic. Or the parents/family cause too much trouble or are looking to use the school as a soap box.
This has been my experience, others may vary.
Given the age of this girl, I doubt she’s caused any trouble. Her “parents” however likely have been nothing but trouble and looking for excuses to stand up on their soapbox and cause issues. Hell the fact this story is even in the media at all tells me that this is likely the case. I guarantee the administrators of the school didn’t contact the media over an admission decision. This poor child likely has activist parents that are simply looking for limelight or lawsuit.
That’s my take on this one.
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