Mike Byrne the Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director had the following to say:
"The Catholic Church has a particular vision of family and sexuality flowing on to a responsibility to model this vision for children through formal activities in the life of the Catholic school.I don't see that there is a big problem that a student is gay and wishing to take his partner along to share in the celebrations of their lives at school. Most schools would be asking for appropriate behaviour from the students and their guests at formals but just because some are gay does not mean they will not conduct themselves accordingly. This kind of thinking is dated and we are in 2008 not 1968.
As such it is not seen as appropriate for the students to attend an event such as a school formal as a same-sex couple."
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail
14 comments:
Quite right of the Catholic Church. They are firmly against gay partnerships and as it is their school, they have the right to do as they wish.
Plenty of state schools if they wish to take their gay partners there.
It may be their school but the students life and choices belongs to them not to the school. There is no difference to the partner being gay or straight. Its not likely they will be indulging in any kind of sexual activity at these formals. You see plenty of heterosexual young couples kissing, hugging, tearing at each others clothes in public and hardly a wink, as i said, we do not live in the dark ages anymore. Lets us not forget what the priests did to many of the students.
That's right - which shows there's a big difference after all. When someone comes into your house - your house rules are what people abide by. Same in the Catholic school.
No it isn't right. Says a lot for the priests who repeatedly molested boys in their care, in their 'own house' as you put it. For years they were in denial of the atrocities that occurred within the walls of the catolic system and now they think they can tell a student who they can and can not associate with at an important celebration and time in their lives. Dinosaurs.
I bet they're prepared to accept the school fees though.....
Yes I think that would be a given, and Catholic schools are not cheap either.
Nunyaa, I must admit to being on the fence here.
Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with being gay- in fact, you know my opinions on this.
Whilst I don't actually agree with the Church's stance on homosexuality per se, in fact it's kind of hypocritical, as the Church strictly speaking, is supposed to be against any sexual relationships outside marriage, and if they think for one minute, the heterosexual student couples aren't at it, they delude themselves.
However, we had a row over here regarding new legislation which effectively barred Catholic adoption agencies from refusing Gay couples.
There was talk of a compromise when Cardinal Murphy O'Connor spoke out against state interference in religous freedom, but nothing came of it, the government held firm.
But it effectively ended the traditional taking for granted by the Labour Party of the Four Million strong Irish Catholic vote in the UK.
I noticed last year at the local elections, we all had sermon on 'thinking before voting', we were told to 'use our conscience' in our decision.
The Church hasn't forgiven Labour for it's contempt of the sentiments of traditional Catholics in the UK- most of whom are of Irish heritage, so yes, are very traditional.
It even effected me, because whilst I don't actually se why gay people shouldn't adopt, I was angered by the lack of respect shown to my faith.
Agree with you, nunyaa.
I'm afraid I'm with James on this, surprise, surprise. While I'm not anti-gay by any means, the Catholic church is, so they do have the right to set these rules at an official school function.
I jsut think if they are going to ban one group from having their partners there then ban the lot, imagine the outcry if they banned guys from taking girls and vice versa, its not like they are going to be carrying on anyway.
Sexual harassment between students (15+)is against anti discrimination legislation in Australia. I wonder if banning same gender partners at a school dance is against the sex discrimination legislation - it is in my mind.
Thumbs down to the schools who support discrimination of any sort.
I so agree. Life is short and I can't understand people who have the time and energy to worry about someone's life besides their own. If a person is lucky enough to find another person that treats them well, respects them, and loves them for who they are, then they are deserve their happiness together without harrasement.
That includes our children.
Good post.
As pointed out to me today, it is a Catholic belief and the children go into their school , therefore it is there rules . I say the thinking of the Catholics IS dated then.
For what it's worth I say let same sex couples go to proms or whatever (I'm not sure any would have dared at my old school back in the late 70s/early 80s but times and attitudes have changed a lot. Most British catholic schools are in the state system here, including my alma mater (Me I parted company with the Vatican nearly 30 years ago)
Post a Comment