Controversies at Catholic schools in Iowa, Nebraska over teachers and same-sex marriage
April 10, 2015
150 students and alumni at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, took part in a protest against the Diocese of Des Moines’ decision not to offer a full-time teaching contract to a substitute teacher who announced his engagement to another man.
“Just because our school officials or diocesan leaders might have made this decision, it does not directly reflect what we believe as students,” a sophomore at the school said.
In Nebraska, the Archdiocese of Omaha decided not to renew the contract of an English teacher at Skutt Catholic High School after he announced his engagement to another man-- leading to a popular online petition drive in support of the teacher.
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Further information:
- Dowling Catholic students protest decision not to hire gay teacher (Des Moines Register)
- Gay man ousted from Catholic school may have little recourse (AP)
- Skutt Catholic teacher humbled by outreach from community (KETV-TV)
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Posted by: Thomas429 -
Apr. 12, 2015 4:30 PM ET USA
Tolerance can definitely be stressed past the breaking point. They tolerated his sexual orientation until it was thrown in their faces. Sin is one thing. Living in it is another. Doing both publicly is beyond tolerable. Expecting to keep teaching at a Catholic School is plum stupid. I would have a problem with a public school that had such a flagrant affront to morality on staff.
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Posted by: unum -
Apr. 11, 2015 9:37 PM ET USA
From their remarks, many of the parents and students at the school don't understand the difference between the Church's teaching about 1)a person's sexual orientation, 2) Marriage, and 3) Sexual relations outside of marriage (regardless of sexual orientation). It sounds like the school and the hierarchy need to start teaching, not allowing kids to miss school for a protest without consequences for their actions. The Church needs to teach like Jesus did, not waffle like bureaucrats!
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Posted by: lak321 -
Apr. 11, 2015 12:18 AM ET USA
Gregory108, Amen. In fact, if they are not being taught properly, I think it is better to send them to public school and teach them the faith all by myself than to be undermined by 'catholic' teachers who are not teaching the faith.
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Posted by: aclune9083 -
Apr. 10, 2015 10:48 PM ET USA
Another example of the failed catechesis prevalent in the land. The sins of the (church) fathers are visited upon the succeeding generations. Sadly, the lavendar mafia cannot undo the damage done to the Church in their care, even if they wished to. To those whom much has been given, even more will be expected.
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Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
Apr. 10, 2015 8:34 PM ET USA
The increasing number of these incidents demonstrates the ineffectiveness of the moral education of our Catholic students.
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Posted by: jplaunder1846 -
Apr. 10, 2015 8:32 PM ET USA
Mr Eledge knows Catholic teaching. He was not sacked because he was homosexual but because he was prepared to engage in sodomy which from a Christian perspective is a serious sin. Those of heterosexual who who also engage in practices that are also seriously sinful practices outside of committed marriage invite the same action. Whether homosexual or heterosexual actions that undermine the social purpose of marriage can also contribute to social problems that are widespread in today's society.
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Posted by: tcflanagan -
Apr. 10, 2015 7:49 PM ET USA
Don't forget to pray for courage and fortitude for the Archdiocesan officials.
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Posted by: Gregory108 -
Apr. 10, 2015 7:42 PM ET USA
If this is what Catholic schools "look" like in these areas, it's time to close them, and, much like the vineyard owner in the parable, "knock down the wall," let the place "go to grazing" and think about what went wrong. Send the kids to public schools-they can't possibly be any worse or any more pagan-and one day, try again, with better administrators and maybe better parents. If these are Catholic schools, The gig is up: give up! Don't waste more parishioner money investing in these failures
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Posted by: nix898049 -
Apr. 10, 2015 1:49 PM ET USA
If you want a sophomoric statement quote a sophomore, I always say.
