That’s what Toronto Catholic blogger Lou Iacobelli contends in
a very recent posting at Everyday for Life
entitled The
Laity Must Do Their Part But So Must The Shepherds. His article exposes the
ongoing and very grave failings of Ontario’s Catholic Bishops that have resulted
in the loss of “the soul of what Catholic schools are called to be.” His piece is
deserving of a wider circulation and is reprinted with permission.
__________________________________
The Laity Must Do Their Part But So Must The Shepherds
by Lou Iacobelli
As reported by The Catholic Register, this week Cardinal Thomas Collins spoke at an event hosted by the Catholic teachers' union. He told those present that today we are living a culture that has reduced the person to an object. Toronto's archbishop stressed the importance of Catholic education in pushing back euthanasia and that faith must be counter cultural. Students need to be exposed to good writers like St. Thomas Aquinas, G. K. Chesterton and have knowledge of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Students also need good Catholic teachers who are not afraid to live their faith and thus give an example to their pupils.
by Lou Iacobelli
As reported by The Catholic Register, this week Cardinal Thomas Collins spoke at an event hosted by the Catholic teachers' union. He told those present that today we are living a culture that has reduced the person to an object. Toronto's archbishop stressed the importance of Catholic education in pushing back euthanasia and that faith must be counter cultural. Students need to be exposed to good writers like St. Thomas Aquinas, G. K. Chesterton and have knowledge of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Students also need good Catholic teachers who are not afraid to live their faith and thus give an example to their pupils.
What Cardinal Collins said about Catholic education, student
involvement in living their faith and teachers needing to provide Christian
leadership are all true and good. But it's also true that shepherds have failed
to lead. Pastors and shepherds have not strongly defended the faith. What can
the laity do when the Catholic teachers' union defies Catholic teaching and the
bishops do nothing? What can parents do when the government approves a radical
sex curriculum that contradicts Catholic doctrine and the bishops instead of
fully backing the faith make a point of defending the curriculum from
criticism? What can Catholic teachers do when Catholic boards approve an
"Equity Education" policy that is against the Catholic view of the
person, human sexuality, family and marriage and the bishops refuse to speak up
with once voice? So, Catholic leadership and responsibility run in both
directions: the laity must do their part but so do the shepherds.
Take this recent example where Lynise Reedy, a teacher with
the Toronto Catholic District School Board, takes 90 students from Dante
Alighieri Academy to see Kinky Boots. The teachers felt that the show was
perfect to teach her kids about issues such as diversity and acceptance. Her
students agreed. The group even shared their enthusiasm for the show by posting
a video on You Tube. We wonder if the parents signed permission forms to attend
the performance and to post the student comments. Where's the Catholic
leadership here at all levels? Parents should be asking a lot of questions.
Here's the video:
My point is this:
Had the bishops spoken out against the implementation of the Liberal's
government Equity and Inclusive Education
Strategy in "Catholic" schools, then there would have be a
greater likelihood that 90 students would not have gone to see a performance
that celebrates the life of a drag queen. Since the bishops have been silent
and because of their lack of leadership the parishes have also been silent, we
now have curriculum in "Catholic" schools that contradicts Catholic
teaching.
I actually was a teacher at Dante Alighieri for five years. It saddens me to think that with so much to choose from in the arts to help inspire and enlighten students that this teacher sees the importance in taking them to watch Kinky Boots. The musical's gender bending "inclusive" ideology isn't Catholic, but that is not going to stop any teacher from going to these kinds of school excursions now that schools have approved Equity Education and Bill 13 is Ontario law.
What about taking students to see something with a redeeming and inspiring message like A Christmas Carol or Les Miserables, Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, or something actually biblically-based like Godspell or Jesus Christ Superstar or Joseph and Technicolour Dream Coat. I suppose I'm asking for too much in this current climate of political correctness. However, in making compromises with the faith we have not lost funding for our "Catholic" schools, but we have lost the soul of what Catholic schools are called to be.
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I actually was a teacher at Dante Alighieri for five years. It saddens me to think that with so much to choose from in the arts to help inspire and enlighten students that this teacher sees the importance in taking them to watch Kinky Boots. The musical's gender bending "inclusive" ideology isn't Catholic, but that is not going to stop any teacher from going to these kinds of school excursions now that schools have approved Equity Education and Bill 13 is Ontario law.
What about taking students to see something with a redeeming and inspiring message like A Christmas Carol or Les Miserables, Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, or something actually biblically-based like Godspell or Jesus Christ Superstar or Joseph and Technicolour Dream Coat. I suppose I'm asking for too much in this current climate of political correctness. However, in making compromises with the faith we have not lost funding for our "Catholic" schools, but we have lost the soul of what Catholic schools are called to be.
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For the reader’s information, and for the fuller picture,
here is an up to date listing of all relevant posts authored by me on this blog
(and elsewhere) referencing Cardinal Thomas Collins.
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