Pastor Fears Lesbian Couple's Complaint Against Catholic School May Open 'Pandora's Box'

AgapePress ^ | September 16, 2003 | Jim Brown

[theFIRMbss]

>The couple has filed a complaint with the Eugene Human Rights Commission and the Oregon Child Care Division, alleging that O'Hara Catholic School refused admission to their four-year-old daughter because of their alternative lifestyle.

Deep pocket churches
should begin filing lawsuits
against every group

that supports gay rights,
saying these groups threaten their
religious freedom.

Let these stupid groups
pay millions in legal bills
across fifty states...

[WillowyDame]

"What about Dick Cheney's daughter?"

What about Dick Cheney's daughter? is RIGHT

[narses]

Ping.

[GirlShortstop]

The couple has filed a complaint with the Eugene Human Rights Commission and the Oregon Child Care Division, alleging that O'Hara Catholic School refused admission to their four-year-old daughter because of their alternative lifestyle.

The child pawn users:  they're baaaaack.

[bicycle thug]

Letter to the editor, Register Guard, Eugene, Oregon:

Not a newsworthy dispute

There was a time when one's sexuality and a 4-year-old's admission status to a private school would not be highlighted for the entire community to discuss. Apparently, that is no longer the case.

On Aug. 29, Register-Guard reporter Anne Williams wrote about the exclusion of a child from pre-school at O'Hara Catholic School. The child's parents are in a lesbian relationship, and the activities and testimony of one of them, Lee Inkmann, was well-documented (the other parent would not comment). The principal of O'Hara and the pastor of St. Mary's Church refused to discuss these private matters. The newsworthiness of this matter would seem to be minimal. However, the article was filled with references to the Eugene Human Rights Commission, the ACLU, one e-mail sent to O'Hara, comments from a former O'Hara principal, etc. These would all be very interesting if they had any relevance to the facts of this matter.

The article raised several questions: How did Inkmann's name, photo and words in The Register-Guard protect her child? Who interjected sexual orientation into the admission process? Why were the media and various agencies mobilized so quickly? Is it possible that Inkmann used her child and the dedicated administrators of a fine school in order to broadcast her own brand of "developed Catholicism"?

I have a strong sense that a scenario was set up, the admission of the child was immaterial, and that a Register-Guard reporter bit hard into a baited hook.

(Author's name in link)

[ninenot]

Yeah--now where's the Mormon in Oklahoma that Sooooooo much wanted the Catholics to take this girl?

[ninenot]

The news item was on FR about 2 weeks ago. At the time, there was speculation that it was all a setup for a suit--apparently the, ah, male dyke is quite an activist.

[jocon307]

"When I first saw that caveat, it struck me as odd; I guess I assumed that such ideas were a given."

Well, in this age of frivolous litigation, leading to Roe v. Wade, and sometimes even a big pay day (unlike the unfortunate Ms. McCorvey who got nothing but a soul full of guilt for her case, not even an abortion) nothing can be assumed. It must be disclaimed, defined, held harmless, etc. etc.

When I enrolled my daughter in the local PUBLIC school, I was given a handbook and was told, in a tone most serious "Read the book. Those are the rules, we follow them". So I read it with much trepidation (I would have read it in any event). It had some very good, and to me, non-controversial statements, but I could understand why they wanted it all spelled out and understood. The two that stick in my mind were the statement about how the schools in the district are "teacher-centered" and not "student centered", a reminder that discipline in the classroom is required; and the dress code.

It is not an especially strict or formal dress code, but enough to keep little Jane and Johnny from showing up looking like sluts and slobs. In practice the dress code is sparingly enforced, the problems comes mostly in the spring, warnings are usually sufficient and ensure longer shorts the next day, but once in a while someone has to wait while a parent brings a change of garb, or someone is made to wear their t-shirt inside out.

I would like to think the school will prevail in this case, but I certainly think your school wrote a very good disclaimer. Boy, this is two times in ten minutes and I get to say again, I love a good disclaimer!

[Polycarp]

The couple has filed a complaint with the Eugene Human Rights Commission and the Oregon Child Care Division, alleging that O'Hara Catholic School refused admission to their four-year-old daughter because of their alternative lifestyle.

Gee, that was unexpected. (/sarcasm)

Ping. (As usual, if you would like to be added to or removed from my "conservative Catholics" ping list, just send me a FReepmail. Please realize that some of my "ping" posts are long.)

[SuziQ]

I have a strong sense that a scenario was set up, the admission of the child was immaterial, and that a Register-Guard reporter bit hard into a baited hook.

Methinks you're exactly right! The fact that the little girl was not admitted to the school may have had nothing to do with the two women she lives with. It sounds as though they just wanted it to be that way, and ran with it!

There are many reasons why kids don't get into Catholic schools. Are the women she lives with members of the Parish to which this school is attached? If so, are they CONTRIBUTING members? The school has every right to limit who gets in to those families who are supportive of the Parish. Once all those are in the school, then the Parish will open the school to other Parishes who will do the same thing. If there are still openings, then the school will consider other Catholic or non-Catholic children. Regardless, the school has every right to deny a place to any child.

[bicycle thug]

I think many of your questions might be answered in this thread I posted earlier;
Lesbian couple protest school's decision

This is the first Register Guard article on this. If you still have any questions, give a holler.

[A-teamMom]

Please add me to your "conservative Catholic" ping list. Thank you and God bless.

[sunshine state]

Can you add me to your ping list?
Thanks.

[TradicalRC]

The more acceptable homosexuality becomes, the less acceptable Christianity becomes. Instead of lions, they'll start feeding us to the lawyers this time.

[Kay Soze]

Make the School a homeowners association.

HOAs are the strongest form of government and can supercede the US constitution at will.

[Salvation]

I still say "Private School = Private Rules". And right to have private rules will win out.

But then this is in Oregon!

[Aquinasfan]

The CINOs will roll over on this one too. Who's to say what's right and what's wrong?

[jimt]

It is ridiculous that a private school should be forced to accept anyone. It's doubly ridiculous that a Catholic school should be forced to accept a child whose parents are engaging in behavior directly opposed to their publicly known beliefs.

It sounds like the two lesbians are less interested in "their child's" welfare than they are in using the child as a club to beat others into "celebrating" their perversion.