Parents Try To Oust Gay Couple's Kids From School
by The Associated Press
January 2, 2005
(Costa Mesa, California) A group of parents and parishioners has accused the Roman Catholic diocese of Orange County of violating church doctrine by allowing a gay couple to enroll their children in a Catholic school.
The group has demanded that St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa accept only families that pledge to abide by Catholic teachings. That would likely bar the men's two adopted boys from attending the school's kindergarten because of church opposition to relationships and adoption by same-sex couples.
"This is not a radical or mean-spirited approach to Catholic education," the group told the school in a letter reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. "It is a straightforward assurance to any prospective parent that their child will be taught the fullness of Roman Catholic doctrine."
School officials, however, rejected demands for a parental covenant last week and issued a new policy stating that a family's background "does not constitute an absolute obstacle to enrollment in the school."
"I firmly believe that this policy is in line with the teaching of the Catholic Church," Rev. Martin Benzoni, who oversees the 550-student elementary and middle school, told the Times.
Rev. Gerald M. Horan, superintendent of schools operated by the diocese, suggested that hewing too closely to Catholic beliefs would mean banning children whose parents divorced, used birth control or married outside the church.
"This is the quagmire that the parents position represents," Horan said. "It's a slippery slope to go down."
The boys' fathers, who enrolled their children at the beginning the school year, declined to comment to the Times.
The decision outraged some parents, with several promising to ask the Vatican to intervene and threatening to switch schools.
"The teachings of the church seem to have been abandoned," said parent John R. Nixon. "We send our children to a Catholic school because we expect and demand that the teachings of our church will be adhered to. If our Catholic school is no longer teaching and living Catholic doctrine, we might as well send our children to public schools."
Others worried the boys' attendance would set a precedent, portraying it as part of a larger effort by the gay community to change church strictures.
"The boys are being used as pawns by these men to further their agenda," said Monica Sii, who has four children at the school.
At least a handful of similar disputes have occurred around the country, according to Rev. Jim Schexnayder of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries. In Oregon, a lesbian couple has sued a Catholic school that rejected their daughter.
Some parents backed the school's position.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," said Katie Flores, whose daughter is a classmate of the boys.
Even so, the group of parents planned to continue pressing their demands.
"We're taking a stand for the faith," said parent Ken Stashik. "This is much larger than what's going on in a small Catholic school in a small town."
©Associated Press 2005
Wonder why the couple felt it was important to send their children to a Catholic school? Was that a wise move? Surely they must have known it might lead to problems. Then again, if this couple are "devout" Catholics, maybe it is very important to them that the children receive a Catholic education. Frankly, I am always amazed to encounter gay xians, gay Catholics in particular - how can people retain allegiance to an organisation that has so thoroughly rejected them? As for the parents demanding the children be expelled from the school, it seems they are seeking to punish the children for their parents behavior. Also, they seem to be giving the message that if someone doesn't live up to their own (supposedly) high moral standards, then they should just be banished from the community.
by The Associated Press
January 2, 2005
(Costa Mesa, California) A group of parents and parishioners has accused the Roman Catholic diocese of Orange County of violating church doctrine by allowing a gay couple to enroll their children in a Catholic school.
The group has demanded that St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa accept only families that pledge to abide by Catholic teachings. That would likely bar the men's two adopted boys from attending the school's kindergarten because of church opposition to relationships and adoption by same-sex couples.
"This is not a radical or mean-spirited approach to Catholic education," the group told the school in a letter reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. "It is a straightforward assurance to any prospective parent that their child will be taught the fullness of Roman Catholic doctrine."
School officials, however, rejected demands for a parental covenant last week and issued a new policy stating that a family's background "does not constitute an absolute obstacle to enrollment in the school."
"I firmly believe that this policy is in line with the teaching of the Catholic Church," Rev. Martin Benzoni, who oversees the 550-student elementary and middle school, told the Times.
Rev. Gerald M. Horan, superintendent of schools operated by the diocese, suggested that hewing too closely to Catholic beliefs would mean banning children whose parents divorced, used birth control or married outside the church.
"This is the quagmire that the parents position represents," Horan said. "It's a slippery slope to go down."
The boys' fathers, who enrolled their children at the beginning the school year, declined to comment to the Times.
The decision outraged some parents, with several promising to ask the Vatican to intervene and threatening to switch schools.
"The teachings of the church seem to have been abandoned," said parent John R. Nixon. "We send our children to a Catholic school because we expect and demand that the teachings of our church will be adhered to. If our Catholic school is no longer teaching and living Catholic doctrine, we might as well send our children to public schools."
Others worried the boys' attendance would set a precedent, portraying it as part of a larger effort by the gay community to change church strictures.
"The boys are being used as pawns by these men to further their agenda," said Monica Sii, who has four children at the school.
At least a handful of similar disputes have occurred around the country, according to Rev. Jim Schexnayder of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries. In Oregon, a lesbian couple has sued a Catholic school that rejected their daughter.
Some parents backed the school's position.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," said Katie Flores, whose daughter is a classmate of the boys.
Even so, the group of parents planned to continue pressing their demands.
"We're taking a stand for the faith," said parent Ken Stashik. "This is much larger than what's going on in a small Catholic school in a small town."
©Associated Press 2005
Wonder why the couple felt it was important to send their children to a Catholic school? Was that a wise move? Surely they must have known it might lead to problems. Then again, if this couple are "devout" Catholics, maybe it is very important to them that the children receive a Catholic education. Frankly, I am always amazed to encounter gay xians, gay Catholics in particular - how can people retain allegiance to an organisation that has so thoroughly rejected them? As for the parents demanding the children be expelled from the school, it seems they are seeking to punish the children for their parents behavior. Also, they seem to be giving the message that if someone doesn't live up to their own (supposedly) high moral standards, then they should just be banished from the community.
