As reported here, Father James Rafferty, pastor of St. Paul's parish in Hingham, Massachusetts, denied admission to a student whose parents are openly homosexual. LifeSiteNews is reporting that the Archdiocese of Boston, rather than backing up this courageous priest who cares for souls, will help find a Catholic school for the ward of the lesbian parents who was denied admission on the basis of their illicit relationship. See here.
This is most unfortunate. For, as Father William Breslin of Sacred Heart Church in Boulder, Colorado made clear during a similar case which took place earlier this year, "It is not about punishing the child for the sins of his or her parents. It is simply that the lesbian couple is saying that their relationship is a good one that should be accepted by everyone; and the Church cannot agree to that." (See here).
Father Breslin is right. The Church cannot condone what is an illicit relationship or even appear to do so. She teaches in fact that, "There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family. Marriage is holy, while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law. Homosexual acts 'close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved." (Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, No. 4).
What is it exactly about this teaching that the Archdiocese of Boston does not understand? By declaring that it will find a Catholic school for the child in question, the Archdiocese of Boston is providing a tacit acceptance of a homosexual relationship. Additionally, the Archdiocese of Boston has forgotten that, "The implementation of a real educational community, built on the foundation of shared projected values, represents a serious task that must be carried out by the Catholic school. In this setting, the presence both of students and of teachers from different cultural and religious backgrounds requires an increased commitment of discernment and accompaniment. The preparation of a shared project acts as a stimulus that should force the Catholic school to be a place of ecclesial experience. Its binding force and potential for relationships derive from a set of values and a communion of life that is rooted in our common belonging to Christ. Derived from the recognition of evangelical values are educational norms, motivational drives and also the final goals of the school. Certainly the degree of participation can differ in relation to one's personal history, but this requires that educators be willing to offer a permanent commitment to formation and self-formation regarding a choice of cultural and life values to be made present in the educational community." (Congregation for Catholic Education, Educating Together in Catholic Schools: A Shared Mission Between Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful, No. 5).
Let's all pray that the Boston Archdiocese will rethink its decision to find a Catholic school for the student in question. It sends the wrong message. And such an attitude fails to respect those evangelical values which provide the basis for educational norms.
I have to disagree with you on this one Paul. Although the two women are clearly sinners I believe it is wrong to deny their child a proper Catholic education based on what they do. If this standard were applied to all children of sinners we would have few children in our schools indeed. Perhaps the child would bring home the message of salvation through Christ and bring these women from their own ruin.
ReplyDeleteAnd Archbishop Charles Chaput would disagree with you William. Responding to the controversy which erupted earlier this year in Boulder, Colorado, His Excellency said 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."
ReplyDeleteWhat you're suggesting is that a Catholic school should ignore Magisterial teaching regarding homosexual relationships and disregard the pastoral needs of the wider school community in the hope that a child might "bring home the message of salvation through Christ" to his parents, thereby saving them from ruin. This is simply ridiculous. Ignore Catholic teaching and the spiritual and educational needs of an entire school community to cater to a lesbian "couple" who are determined to thrust their illicit lifestyle on others? This Catholic educators are bound in conscience not to do.
You write, "If this standard were applied to all children of sinners we would have few children in our schools indeed." I agree. Happily, Catholic schools do not deny children admittance because their parents happen to be sinners. But the parents in this case are not merely imperfect sinners as we all are. They are engaged in a sexual relationship which is illicit and, [objectively speaking] gravely sinful.
Again, the CDF has taught that, "There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family. Marriage is holy, while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law. Homosexual acts 'close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved." (Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, No. 4).
The Archdiocese of Boston is wrong because their decision to find a Catholic school for the student in question amounts to a tacit approval of the illicit homosexual relationship.
The Archdiocese is sending the wrong message. Just as it did with Senator Kennedy's public funeral Mass which was a scandal.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the Boston Archdiocese going to stop accommodating the world?
Sad.