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Toronto's Cardinal Collins joins opponents of required 'gay-straight alliances' in schools

CWN - May 29, 2012

The Archbishop of Toronto has joined Catholic-school administrators in Ontario in opposing a proposed new law that would require all school principals to allow students to form anti-bullying clubs known as “gay-straight alliances.”

"Why is a piece of provincial legislation being used to micromanage the naming of student clubs?" asked Cardinal Thomas Collins.

The cardinal stressed that Catholic schools are committed to preventing bullying, and ensuring that “all people are treated with love and respect.” But the “gay-straight alliance” model, he said, raises concerns for Catholic educators insofar as it may encourage acceptance of homosexual behavior.

“Because this model is so closely related to a movement with particular views concerning the human person and the issues of life, people who disagree with those views are understandably concerned that the model can serve as a means not only to address bullying, but to promote the views with which they disagree,” the cardinal said. The cardinal said that Catholic schools can work effectively to protect students from bullying by promoting distinctively Catholic moral principles.

“If the point is that there is something unacceptable about those Catholic principles, then I find that troubling,” the cardinal said.

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  • Posted by: FredC - May. 30, 2012 12:00 PM ET USA

    Why not use the gay-straight alliance as an avenue for helping the gays to repent and live chaste lives?

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