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Catholic religion teacher removed, investigated after lesbian couple complains [Catholic Caucus]
Life Site News ^ | June 20, 2016 | Pete Baklinski

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.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholic; francischurch; homosexualagenda
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“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.
1 posted on 06/22/2016 7:27:00 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide
for allegedly telling the students in class that homosexuals can’t reproduce and that they are not married according to Catholic teaching.

Both are indisputably true statements.

2 posted on 06/22/2016 7:28:17 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: ebb tide

Lefties can’t handle the truth.


3 posted on 06/22/2016 7:29:43 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If the Orlando terrorist doesnÂ’t represent all Muslims, why does he represent all gun-owners?)
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To: PGR88

Yup.


4 posted on 06/22/2016 7:31:25 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: ebb tide

Speaking the truth is no longer acceptable.


5 posted on 06/22/2016 7:33:05 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: ebb tide
And what would the school board do if the instructor was a muzzie and said they all should be killed?
6 posted on 06/22/2016 7:35:46 PM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives - ban gun free zones)
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To: ebb tide

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.


7 posted on 06/22/2016 7:35:49 PM PDT by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: PGR88

Exactly.


8 posted on 06/22/2016 7:36:22 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: ebb tide
"and launched an investigation into the allegations."

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.

9 posted on 06/22/2016 7:37:25 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Valley Forge Redux. If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us then who?)
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To: ebb tide

Anyone know which side the Pope will decide to support?


10 posted on 06/22/2016 7:38:35 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (The official language of the United States should be Arabic. It's clear that our government is.)
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To: ebb tide

These students will some day have the opportunity to argue directly with Jesus.


11 posted on 06/22/2016 7:43:21 PM PDT by beethovenfan (Islam is a cancer on civilization.)
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To: immadashell
And what would the school board do if the instructor was a muzzie and said they all should be killed?

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.

12 posted on 06/22/2016 7:43:59 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: ebb tide

“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 :)


13 posted on 06/22/2016 7:44:04 PM PDT by Maudeen (Sinner Saved by Grace)
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To: ebb tide

Behead those believing the Earth is round. This is leftist shariah


14 posted on 06/22/2016 7:49:48 PM PDT by JudgemAll (Democrats Fed. job-security Whorocracy & hate:hypocrites must be gay like us or be tested/crucified)
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To: Robert DeLong

...and searching for truth is no longer desirable.


15 posted on 06/22/2016 7:51:52 PM PDT by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless, indisputable clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
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To: immadashell

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


16 posted on 06/22/2016 7:52:27 PM PDT by JudgemAll (Democrats Fed. job-security Whorocracy & hate:hypocrites must be gay like us or be tested/crucified)
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To: DennisR

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.


17 posted on 06/22/2016 7:56:30 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Grams A
Alberta has an interesting education system. When you pay your school taxes you have the option of paying them to the Catholic school system instead of the public schools.

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.

18 posted on 06/22/2016 8:04:53 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Sometimes I feel like I've been tied to the whipping post.")
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To: Robert DeLong

Should have qualified it by saying “liberals / Democrats / Socialists” do not desire truth. Vis-a-vis Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, and so forth.


19 posted on 06/22/2016 8:05:30 PM PDT by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless, indisputable clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
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To: ebb tide
"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.

This guy is either an eternal optimist, or he's delusional. LOL.

20 posted on 06/22/2016 8:06:30 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Sometimes I feel like I've been tied to the whipping post.")
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