Ontario Catholic School Controversy Could Easily Have Been Avoided
A recent story from Ontario highlights institutional Catholic intransigence over LGBT issues is trumping reasonable solutions to simple problems.
Xtra.ca, a Canadian LGBT news source reports on the case of an 18-year old secondary school student named Brooke who has experienced repeated harassment at a Catholic school in Windsor, Ontario:
“Administrators at a Catholic school in Windsor, Ontario, are allegedly threatening to launch a lawsuit in an attempt to silence a gay student who is speaking out against homophobic discrimination at the school.
“Brooke, 18, a Grade 12 student at St Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School, who asked that her last name be withheld, has had a rough school year so far. It began with the death of her father on Oct 1. On top of that, Brooke says a teacher has been bullying her because she is gay and in a relationship with a fellow student.“And ever since the teacher outed their relationship to her girlfriend’s parents, Brooke says, the school has become the only place the pair can see one another, so she has no choice but to stay.”
“ ‘That’s not just physical safety, but also psychological and emotional safety as well,’ she says. ‘I call on every adult that surrounds her in that school system to stand up for her safety.“ ‘Here we have a student in a publicly funded school that is not getting the support from her administration. She does not feel safe. Her concerns are not being addressed. Frankly, I think it’s disgusting that no [administrator] is standing up for her.’‘DiNovo says it’s now the province’s job to ensure the act is enforced. Students shouldn’t have to face a legal battle to get the protection they deserve, she says. ‘[Education Minister] Liz Sandals herself should intervene. It’s sad we have to ask this of our students.’ ”
Sounds like a case for N C L R (National Center for Lesbian Rights) to handle.
Beleiving that homosexuality is sinful is not homophobic nor does it, in and of itself constitute bullying. Schools must be safe places for all people regardless of their sexual orientation and all people have a common dignity and value and beauty and this must always be affirmed. You can affirm the beauty and dignity of a person while disagreeing with their choices on a moral level. Accepting schools and bullying laws are about how we treat one another, not what we beleive about one their moral character. Yes, we must allow people the freedom to live their own life according to what they think is best, but this does not require us to agree that it is best. The teaching of the church bases identity on a larger picture of which sexuality is one part. Self control, discipline, chastity and indeed mercy and compassion are all important virtues and things that must be emphasized in dealing with LGBTQ in catholic schools.