In response to Julia Duggan’s letter (Certain teachings central to Catholic faith

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• Time to pull the plug on funding of Catholic schools – LETTER

Updated 1 hour ago

In response to Julia Duggan’s letter (Certain teachings central to Catholic faith) Nugget. Feb. 13, 2012).

Public dollars should no longer be directed into a separate school system that has no tolerance for those who are born being different.

Under the guise of piety, Ms Duggan would have us believe “that bullying should not be tolerated in our schools”.

Meanwhile, it is quite clear throughout her letter the Catholic school system will not tolerate those who are homosexual. This is an impossible situation for those children who find themselves in this hostile territory.

Even though GSA’s have been mandated in all schools – including those within the Catholic system – there has been a lot of resistance shown by the ACBO (Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario) right through the entire Catholic school hierarchy. This itself is a form of bullying.

Those who believe themselves to be followers of God forget his teachings. According to the Bible, God created man in his own image. Therefore, this must include those of other sexual orientation as well.

Religious zealots pick and choose which passages of their holy books they wish to adhere to and how to interpret them, depending on their own agenda.

Why haven’t they held their own priests to the same high standards that they have for their young charges?

While they continue to leech money out of the public coffers in order to further their own religion, I’d say they must abide by the mandate of the Ontario government.

Considering the looming deficit our province is faced with, there is every reason for us to pull the plug on the funding of separate school education.

Dalton McGuinty – himself a Catholic – is now being ostracized by those within his own religion because of his decision on GSA’s.

I guess he’s just not Catholic enough.

I have personally read their school system’s policy on the topic of homosexuality. Although it is covered in platitudes, the clear message it sends is that only a relationship between a man and woman is acceptable and that those who feel or behave differently must ‘remain celibate’ or risk the wrath of God.

Does this sound like acceptance and tolerance?

Rita Ramsay

Callander

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While one may agree with the apparent unfairness of a government which allows one religion to pay it’s school tax dollars toward it’s own separate school system while others are not allowed to do the same, rubs many the wrong way. However this is a constitutional matter and is not simply in the power of the ruling party of a province to change. It is mainly a matter for the supreme court, the Federal Gov’t. and Provinces to bring about any changes, and would most likely have to be decided with a country wide referendum. It will not be an easy task. So there is no currency in blaming one party or another for this situation. That is why it is never a part of any party platform. It is a red herring….a can of fish which nobody wants to open. It would be really interesting to see what would happen if some political party, made working toward the abolition of the Separate school system part of their platform. Amending the constitution of Canada is no easy task as can be evidenced by reading the following URL. Which explains all the hoops that have to be jumped through.

http://www.pco-bcp.gc.c​?a/aia/index.asp?l​a?ng=engpage=​fe?deraldoc=m​odif/modif-eng.htm

Below is some of the legal history involved.

Wikipedia……”In Canada, the term separate school refers to a particular type of school that has constitutional status in three provinces (Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan) and statutory status in three territories (Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut). …….

The Constitution of Canada does not establish separate school education as a natural or unconditional right available to all. Only Protestants or Roman Catholics, whichever is the minority faith population compared to the other in a community, can consider the establishment of separate school education. The separate school establishment right is not available to citizens of any other faith (such as Jews, or Mormons, or Hindus, or Muslims). …….

There is one Protestant separate school jurisdiction in Ontario, the Burkevale Protestant Separate School, operated by the Penetanguishene Protestant Separate School Board. In Ontario, this determination was largely made throughout the province by the time of Confederation.

The public school system in the province was historically Protestant but was gradually transformed into a secular public system. Prayer in public schools was discontinued in the early 1980s.

The right to have a publicly-funded separate denominational school system continues to be guaranteed by Section 93 of the 1982 Constitution Act to Roman Catholics in Ontario.[7]
A province-wide newspaper survey conducted between 1997 and 1999 in 45 dailies indicated that 79% of 7551 respondents in Ontario favoured a single public school system, but no widely supported movement to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 has developed.”

Post #1
By leeds,
1 hour ago |

0 Votes | Vote:

Catholics make up about 35% of the Ontario population, and even most catholics who don’t attend church send their kids to separate schools. As well some Muslims, and those of other faiths, and none, and even a few atheists send their kids to separate schools. This happens mostly in Catholic high schools, if they change their school tax status to separate school supporter. They send their kids there largely because the schools are perceived to have a more conservative family value set than public schools, and this is what many people want. Non Catholic kids are exempted from attending any religious classes or functions at the schools. Considering the demographics regards the number of catholics in the province and the fact that some Muslims and others send their kids to the separate schools, it would be political suicide for any party to attempt to get rid of the system using “the notwithstanding clause” or any other method.

Ironically, when attending the graduation of my grandson from a public high school, the opening ceremonies began with a Christian prayer. I thought that was a bit unusual. I didn’t think that was allowed. I did not partake, but wondered how other agnostics and atheists felt. Probably much like myself, surprised, but not outraged. I guess tolerance ruled the day.

The Not Withstanding Clause

“Such a declaration lapses after five years or a lesser time specified in the clause, although the legislature may re-enact the clause indefinitely. The rationale behind having a five-year expiry date is that it is also the maximum amount of time that the Parliament or legislature may sit before an election must be called. Therefore, if the people wish for the law to be repealed they have the right to elect representatives that will carry out the wish of the electorate.”

The political turmoil caused by any attempt to use this political tool to remove the Separate School System at this point in our history would have disruptive devastating effects that would rip the province to shreds. Is there any Ontario politician of note, that would dare even mention the possibility? This at the moment is only a topic for hypothetical discussion, at least for now.

Post #2
By leeds,
1 hour ago |

0 Votes | Vote:

It,s hard to take anyone seriously who,s main contribution to society is the amount of money they spend at the LCBO i am surprised that a letter could be comprised together at all through rose colored glasses i thought there would be more stains on it due to spillage and slurs or are those teachings not central to the faith Julia?

Post #3
By TommyTricker,
12 minutes ago |

0 Votes | Vote:

Leeds, non-Catholic students are not exempted from attending religious classes or events in Catholic high schools. They are held to the same standard as the Catholic students (I know, I went to one). The philosophy is, if a non-Catholic family is sending their child to a Catholic environment, they must want them learning in and of the Catholic faith…rightly or wrongly.
An Act of Parliament is all that is required to abolish publicly funded seperate schools. It’s been done before (NFLD., and Que.) and could just as easily happen in Ontario. All that is needed is the will of the people and a political leader with the desire (and majority in Parliament) to do so.

Post #4
By read carefully,
4 minutes ago |

0 Votes | Vote:

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