Just weeks after Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C., stopped offering benefits to the spouses of its employees to avoid possibly having to offer domestic partner benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (a decision that came in the wake of D.C. legalizing same-sex marriage, a move which the Catholic Church fought tooth and nail), and Catholic school in Boulder, Colo., is refusing to admit a preschooler who has lesbian parents.
About two dozen people gathered outside the church that runs Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School on Sunday, March 7, to protest the decision, according to ABC Channel 7 News in Denver.
Although church officials declined to comment, officials with the Denver Archdiocese issued this statement: “To preserve the mission of our schools, and to respect the faith of wider Catholic community, we expect all families who enroll students to live in accord with Catholic teaching. Parents living in open discord with Catholic teaching in areas of faith and morals unfortunately choose by their actions to disqualify their children from enrollment.”
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If this school had a rule that all parents of children should abide by the OFFICIAL teachings of the Catholic faith AND applied it across the board, this dismissal would be acceptable. However, the school is simply discriminating against gays and lesbians by ONLY applying the requirement against gays and lesbians while allowing other sinning parents to keep their kids in school.
Many parents that have children at this school have been divorced and re-married. At least one father has left his wife and is living with his mistress. Their children are still allowed to attend school despite the fact that the parent’s are disobeying the Church’s teachings.
It is quite transparent that the school wants to discriminate against this couple and simply searched for a reason to do it. That they are applying this requirement unevenly only proves that animosity and hatred of gays and lesbians is their only reasoning. Shameful.
this is exactly why we voted yes on 8 in california. homosexuals claimed they would never force their chosen lifestyle downs pastors throats but here is proof they are all liars. Homosexuals during the campaign promised they would stay away from religious charities or make pastors marry homo couples…..lies lies lies. Why are protesting people this is a religious school that knows the bible says it’s a sin…don’t enroll your kids in a catholic or christian school unless you can’t handle the truth about the vile and disgusting perverted life of homosexauls. Homosexuals have chosen an alternative lifestyle and expect society to validate it, well guess what we won’t good for you catholics good for you
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it ironic that anti-gay people talk about gays and lesbians “choosing a lifestyle” when the best scientific evidence is that sexual orientation is genetic, and then they claim gays and lesbians want to “force their chosen lifestyle” on people — when in fact, those people have “chosen a lifestyle” based on the religious beliefs and then force that lifestyle on others through the ballot box?
What was it that Dan Aykroyd used to say to Jane on SNL. Google it as it really applies here. I for one don’t understand why any Self respecting GLBT couple would even consider putting their kid into a Catholic school. They must not have any other schools in the area. That said the Church has the ability to discriminate as much as it wants. Since it’s creation it has applied its rules as it saw fit at the time. Personally I think they did this kid a huge favor. Imagine being brainwashed into believing your own parents are an abomination. Talk about how to screw with a kids mind.
This is not a religious school. This us a private school that offers a service to the general public in exchange for a fee. They also appear to accept public assistance. In essence they are using tax money, some of it from gays and lesbians, to discriminate against them.
A. This isn’t the church. This is a school that operates as a business. In fact, it’s funding and governing board structure is not even part of the church. They decided to start a business. Should they be exempt from all the laws that govern businesses, or just the ones that pertain to non-discrimination against gays? what about blacks? If they don’t have to abide by non-discrimination laws, do they have to abide by child welfare laws? Maybe they can beat the children until they bleed and scar, or lock them in the broom closet all day and call it religious cleansing.
B. With all due respect, you know nothing about the parents, the school, the children, or the town. Perhaps this is the best school in the area. Perhaps it offers a curriculum that is suited to the child. Should the child be denied this opportunity because the parents are gay? Sorry, I didn’t realize that disadvantaging a child because we don’t like their parents were values of the Catholic Church or our great nation.
C. To the Prop 8 supporter: It’s clear that you have animosity against gays and lesbians. You even noted that you find their behavior “vile and disgusting.” This is called the “language of disgust.” Your attempt to label gays and lesbians as threatening to contaminate and defile the rest of humanity is sad and false. It only serves to clarify why gays and lesbians deserve even more protection from people like you.
this is a catholic school your lying BLUPRNTGUY
JANE (note the all-caps!): Maybe you should let the school know I’m lying. I called before I posted and inquired if I had to be part of the parish in order to enroll my daughter. They said that enrollment was open to all local children provided that we agreed to their enrollment policy. I was frankly surprised they even answered the phone given all the press this has received – regardless, it’s not me that is lying.
Their phone number is easily available on the web if you would like to discuss this with them. Perhaps you might also want to discuss that whole “thou shall not bear false witness” stuff with them…
To HELL with them all.