Admitting Children of Same-Sex Couples to Catholic Schools

Canon lawyer Ed Peters has some interesting thoughts about the issue of admitting children of same-sex couples to Catholic elementary schools.  For those who haven't been following the news, two homosexuals have enrolled their two children in a Catholic school in Costa Mesa, California. Apparently, the school, the Diocese of Orange, and even the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights support the move. A parents' group protested but their protest was rejected. My comments are accessible below in the comment section.  Jimmy Akin has some interesting observations at his blog.

Comments

[Mark Brumley]

I have a hard time seeing *any* rationale for admitting children of homosexual couples, at least given the circumstances that obtain in most Catholic schools.

Personally, only in relatively rare instances would I admit non-Catholics to a Catholic school—even non-Catholic Christians. I would certainly *not* admit Catholics who deliberately, publicly and blatantly live contrary to the teaching of the Church, and teach their children it’s okay to do so, even if only by their bad parental example, whether the parents are fornicating, committing adultery, or engaging in homosexual acts. It’s simply not fair to the students, their families, the faculty, or to the children to be admitted.

I recognize there may be more room for discussion when it comes to people who aren't publicly opposing Catholic belief and practice. That doesn't seem to be the situation with same-sex people seeking to have their children admitted to Catholic schools.

Catholic schools have to decide whether they are (1) schools of Catholics committed to catechizing children in the Catholic faith and educating children in the Catholic liberal arts tradition (recognizing that there is an evangelization element in all catechesis and that any community of Catholics will have people who fall short of their ideal); (2) missionary endeavors where children (and indirectly their parents) are primarily being evangelized, not catechized, and hence may not believe at all or may hold and routinely practice any number of things gravely sinful; or (3) private schools that have only some vague association with the Catholic tradition and where all bets are off, except, perhaps, when it comes to “academic excellence,” whatever that is supposed to be.

If they are #3, I say shut them down. Let somebody else be in the private school business.

If they are #2, then they aren’t really “Catholic” schools, they're "mission schools". They are schools for pagans or semi-Christians who, one hopes, may become Catholic or fully Catholic. Catholic parents can’t responsibly send their children there, all other things being equal, because their children are as likely to be corrupted as catechized. Of course Catholic parents don't always have a lot of choices and some parents may judge the mission school better than their other options. Fair enough. But we shouldn't let those parents make a choice thinking that they're choosing a fully Catholic school when they're really in mission territory.

If they are #1, then they must be made up of children of parents who are intentionally Catholic and who, while they may from time to time succumb to sin, are nevertheless committed to repenting of their sin and striving, with the help of grace, to sin no more. In certain circumstances and with due regard for the good of others in the school, there may be a place for a certain number of children whose parents aren't repentant for their sins but whose sins remain private or unknown to the school community. That’s very different from a person who either deliberately and publicly undertakes a sinful way of living or who denies (whether culpably or not) the Church’s teaching regarding marriage and family life.

Since homosexual parents are people who have chosen to live in a way that is contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church, it seems that they should not want to send their children to a school that, if it is true to its purpose and mission, must consider them to be living gravely sinful lives and at least by example if not by their instruction, corrupting the moral sensibility of their children. But in any case it certainly seems wrong for those in charge of the school to admit children whose parents so obviously oppose Catholic teaching.

[Mark Brumley]

Also, Jimmy Akin's thoughtful analysis can be found at http://www.jimmyakin.org/2005/01/protecting_chil.html.

[Maria Criger]

I had children who attended St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa. I have since taken my children out. My Son's 1st grade teacher happens to be closely acquainted with the gay couple, something which outraged me. I think your catagorization of our Catholic School System is right on. With the way things are going the only option left for parents will be Catholic home schooling because I don't know of any such Catholic school which would fall under the #1 category. Thank you for your insight.

Maria Criger

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[Jason]

As someone who is a product of a Catholic Education from Kindergarten through my masters degree it is disturbing to see the views posted above. Catholic teachings include tolerance, understanding, and respect for others. That is what I learned at Catholic school, and none of this is being displayed here. Lost apparently in the details here is the children. To those who would appose the attendance of these children and other children of "sinners" I pose the question: What did these children do? Are they guilty by association? I recall several students while I was in high school not being of Christian beliefs, and never, ever did they pose a problem, or did someone think that their non-belief would deter their own educational experience. While at mass they were respectful and quiet. Had they not been, however, I have no doubt that they would have been suspended or expelled, and obviously rightly so.

Practically looking at this situation, what is the actual fear issue? Are parents afraid that these students may come in discussing their parents sex life? Not gonna happen. The last thing any kid wants to talk about at school is their parents - that just isn't cool. Is there a fear that these two gay men may start kissing and groping each other in the parking lot while waiting to pick up their children? If this actually was happening I would say by all means reprimand them and consider refusing admittance, but I would say the same for any heterosexual parents who would do the same. By all means make the parents of all students comply with a basic moral standard of behavior that respects the sanctity of the school, but do not punish the children for sins which they did not commit - they are the reason the schools are there in the first place. Achieve a balance that involves the teachings of both the Catholic Church with a standard school curriculum. From the comments above, if all schools were to fall into the #1 category it is doubtful that any meaningful education other than evangelization would occur, and if that were the case what sane parent would choose a second rate education for their child? Certainly there is time for a religion class during the day - maybe 45 minutes per day. Anything more than that can and should be taught at home by the parents, and at catechism classes.

I suppose the only thing we can do as parents is find a school that you believe represents your ideal balance of what your child's education should be like. Look at the schools, talk to the principals, and see which is right for you and your child. If you have considered what is important for the child and their future as a whole and not just your own personal feelings, then you will make the right decision. Personally, as a parent and a Catholic, I would not send my child to a school that would not allow a child who happens to have gay parents to be admitted. That lack of understanding and respect for my fellow human, is not what I want my child to learn.

[Jason]

As someone who is a product of a Catholic Education from Kindergarten through my masters degree it is disturbing to see the views posted above. Catholic teachings include tolerance, understanding, and respect for others. That is what I learned at Catholic school, and none of this is being displayed here. Lost apparently in the details here is the children. To those who would oppose the attendance of these children and other children of "sinners" I pose the question: What did these children do? Are they guilty by association? I recall several students while I was in high school not being of Christian beliefs, and never, ever did they pose a problem, or did someone think that their non-belief would deter their own educational experience. While at mass they were respectful and quiet. Had they not been, however, I have no doubt that they would have been suspended or expelled, and obviously rightly so.

Practically looking at this situation, what is the actual fear issue? Are parents afraid that these students may come in discussing their parents sex life? Not gonna happen. The last thing any kid wants to talk about at school is their parents - that just isn't cool. Is there a fear that these two gay men may start kissing and groping each other in the parking lot while waiting to pick up their children? If this actually was happening I would say by all means reprimand them and consider refusing admittance, but I would say the same for any heterosexual parents who would do the same. By all means make the parents of all students comply with a basic moral standard of behavior that respects the sanctity of the school, but do not punish the children for sins which they did not commit - they are the reason the schools are there in the first place. Achieve a balance that involves the teachings of both the Catholic Church with a standard school curriculum. From the comments above, if all schools were to fall into the #1 category it is doubtful that any meaningful education other than evangelization would occur, and if that were the case what sane parent would choose a second rate education for their child? Certainly there is time for a religion class during the day - maybe 45 minutes per day. Anything more than that can and should be taught at home by the parents, and at catechism classes.

I suppose the only thing we can do as parents is find a school that you believe represents your ideal balance of what your child's education should be like. Look at the schools, talk to the principals, and see which is right for you and your child. If you have considered what is important for the child and their future as a whole and not just your own personal feelings, then you will make the right decision. Personally, as a parent and a Catholic, I would not send my child to a school that would not allow a child who happens to have gay parents to be admitted. That lack of understanding and respect for my fellow human, is not what I want my child to learn.