{"id":248,"date":"2012-06-07T10:10:00","date_gmt":"2012-06-07T10:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/catholic-schools-will-follow-ontarios-gay-straight-club-requirement\/"},"modified":"2012-06-07T10:10:00","modified_gmt":"2012-06-07T10:10:00","slug":"catholic-schools-will-follow-ontarios-gay-straight-club-requirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/06\/catholic-schools-will-follow-ontarios-gay-straight-club-requirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholic schools will follow Ontario’s gay-straight club requirement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Toronto, Canada, Jun 7, 2012 \/ 04:10 am (CNA<\/a>).- Catholic schools in the province of Ontario will abide by a law requiring them to allow \u201cGay-Straight Alliance\u201d clubs, despite concerns about the loss of religious freedom.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario has expressed serious concerns regarding certain aspects of this legislation, as have numerous other individual citizens and groups,\u201d said Cardinal Thomas C. Collins of Toronto, after the Ontario Legislature passed the measure known as Bill 13.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cRecognizing that the 'Accepting Schools Act' is now the law, Catholic partners will seek, as we have always done, in a way that is in accord with our faith, to foster safe and welcoming school communities,\u201d Cardinal Collins said in a June 5 statement.<\/p>\n

\tThe cardinal reaffirmed that bullying \u201cin any form, is unacceptable.\u201d He also stressed the Church's commitment \u201cto welcome every person with love and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tBishop Frederick J. Colli of Thunder Bay told CBC News that Catholic schools would follow the law by allowing \u201cgay-straight alliance\u201d clubs if students request them. He also said the groups would have adult oversight to protect schools' Catholic identity.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe will remind the students about the teachings of the Catholic church and about what the Catholic faith expects of them and also about what our Catholic values are because that\u2019s the basis of our schools,\u201d Bishop Colli told the CBC.<\/p>\n

\tHe stressed that the Catholic faith affirms the fundamental dignity of all people, but noted that the Church cannot support the \u201chomosexual lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tProposed as an effort to stop bullying, the Accepting Schools Act was eventually amended to force Catholic schools to allow \u201cgay-straight alliance\u201d groups.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cRight from the beginning, when this bill was introduced, we were working together with the government, to try and come up with solutions that would be best for all students in Ontario,\u201d recalled Marino Gazzola, president of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe amendment came unexpectedly,\u201d Gazzola told CNA on June 6.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cBut it's now passed. We want to focus on ensuring that all our students are safe, are protected, and get the support that they require. And if these groups are formed, the legislation says they're allowed to be called 'Gay-Straight Alliances.'\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe're encouraging our boards, our schools, and our administrators to comply with the law,\u201d the president said.<\/p>\n

\tDespite the religious freedom concerns that accompanied its consideration and passage, Gazzola said civil disobedience of the law \u201cwas never considered.\u201d He also confirmed that the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association is currently \u201cnot considering a legal challenge\u201d to the statute.<\/p>\n

\tInstead, he said, schools will follow the guidelines of the association's \u201cRespecting Differences\u201d document \u2013 which states that \u201cthe activities and organization of all groups or organizations formed within Catholic schools must be respectful of and consistent with Catholic teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tOn May 14, the Canadian bishops' conference released a major pastoral letter on the subject of conscience and religion. The letter stressed the right of conscientious objection, and the duty to resist laws that are \"contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel.\"<\/p>\n

\tBut Gazzola said it would be \u201cvery premature\u201d to speculate about the future of religious freedom in his country on the basis of the Accepting Schools Act.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI don't think anybody can predict the future,\u201d he said, stressing instead the need to \u201cdeal with what we have\u201d and act in students' best interest.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toronto, Canada, Jun 7, 2012 \/ 04:10 am (CNA).- Catholic schools in the province of Ontario will abide by a law requiring them to allow “Gay-Straight Alliance” clubs, despite concerns about the loss of religious freedom.<\/p>\n

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