Many will have seen this story in today's news about a parish school in the Archdiocese of Boston which had admitted an 8-year-old boy earlier this year but recently withdrew that acceptance after learning that his parents are lesbians.
This afternoon, the following statement was released by Dr. Mary Grassa O'Neill, the Archdiocesan Secretary for Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools:
The Archdiocese of Boston is committed to providing quality Catholic education, grounded in academic excellence and the teachings of the Catholic Church, to the students at all of our schools. We believe that every parent who wishes to send their child to a Catholic school should have the opportunity to pursue that dream. Our schools welcome children based on their parent’s understanding that the teachings of the Church are an important component of the curriculum and are part of the students’ educational experience. The Archdiocese does not prohibit children of same sex parents from attending Catholic schools. We will work in the coming weeks to develop a policy to eliminate any misunderstandings in the future.Image: Poster for Catholic Schools Week 2010
Since the issue involving St. Paul School in Hingham was brought to our attention on Tuesday of this week, we have met with the pastor and principal to learn more about their decision. Earlier today I contacted the student’s parent and expressed my concern for the welfare of her child. I offered to help enroll her child in another Catholic school in the Archdiocese. She was gracious and appreciative of the suggestion and indicated that she would look forward to considering some other Catholic schools that would welcome her child for the next academic year.
Academic rigor, faith formation, Gospel values, strong character development, respect, and support are hallmarks of our schools.
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