Kansas City, Kan., Mar 8, 2019 / 05:03 pm (CNA).- A K-8 Catholic school in Kansas is defending its decision to deny admission to a kindergarten student who is the child of a same-sex couple, citing archdiocesan admissions policies.
Father Craig Maxim sent a letter dated Feb. 27 to the families of St. Ann Catholic School in Prairie Hills, a suburb of Kansas City. Maxim, the church’s pastor, wrote that when the question of whether to allow the child to enroll first arose, he sought the guidance of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
He wrote that diocese has the ability to “form policy on these matters while individual diocesan schools do not.” The archdiocese advised against admission, he said.
A petition dated March 1 asks the school to “prayerfully reconsider” its decision. The petition has reportedly garnered over 1,000 signatures and was sent to Archbishop Joseph Naumann and the school’s superintendent Kathy O’Hara.
The petition claims that the school admits children of parents who are divorced and remarried or have conceived through in-vitro fertilization, as well as non-Catholic children and families.
“Respectfully, we believe that the decision to to deny a child of God access to such a wonderful community and education, based on the notion that his or her parent’s union is not in accordance with the Church’s teaching on Sacramental marriage, lacks the compassion and mercy of Christ’s message,” the petition reads.
In a media statement, the Kansas City archdiocese explained its admissions policy, which all Catholic schools affiliated with the archdiocese are bound to follow.
The statement affirms the Church’s teaching both that “individuals with same sex attraction should be treated with dignity,” as well as the Church’s understanding of marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
“Marriage is considered the building block of the family, of society, and the heart of the Church. The Church’s teaching on marriage is clear and is not altered by the laws of civil society,” the statement reads, in reference to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision that legalized gay marriage nationwide.
“The decision of the Supreme Court to grant marital status to same-sex unions does not change Church doctrine on marriage, but does present the Church with new pastoral challenges.”
The fact that a same-sex couple is not capable of modeling the “essential components” of the Church’s teaching on marriage “creates a conflict for their children between what they are taught in school and what is experienced at home,” the archdiocese said, and could become a source of confusion for other students.
“Our schools exist to pass on the Catholic faith. Incorporated into our academic instruction and spiritual formation, at every grade level, are the teachings of the Catholic Church,” the statement continues.
“It is important for children to experience consistency between what they are taught in school and what they see lived at home. Therefore, we ask that parents understand and be willing to support those teachings in their homes.”
The archdiocese concluded its statement by saying that the Church does not think it respectful, fair, loving or compassionate for individuals who disagree with the Church’s teaching to “place their children in an educational environment where the values of the parents and the core principles of the school conflict.”
While acknowledging that other diocese across the country have different policies regarding enrollment for children of same-sex couples, Father Maxim wrote that he had communicated his parishioners’ concerns to the archdiocese. He stressed that this was not to “undermine Church doctrine,” but rather an attempt to “continue dialogue” with the archdiocese about the policy.
“As your pastor, I am distressed over the division this sensitive and complex issue has caused within our school and church,” he wrote, asking for prayers for healing, peace, and understanding.
If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!
Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
“A petition dated March 1 asks the school to “prayerfully reconsider” its decision. The petition has reportedly garnered over 1,000 signatures and was sent to Archbishop Joseph Naumann and the school’s superintendent Kathy O’Hara.”
And every single one of those 1,000 people is an idiot, complicit in the moral degradation of this country.
“Respectfully, we believe that the decision to to deny a child of God access to such a wonderful community and education, based on the notion that his or her parent’s union is not in accordance with the Church’s teaching on Sacramental marriage, lacks the compassion and mercy of Christ’s message,” the petition reads.””
Bilge. This is a lot worse than “not in accordance with the Church’s teaching on Sacramental marriage,” it is a denial of the dominion of nature and God.
It is wrong to expose the other students of the school to this evil.
And why do they want to send the poor child there, anyway, to a school that is diametrically opposed to their beliefs? (And I suspect that to them he isn’t a child, he’s a tool to allow them to pretend that they are in a real marriage). He’s a weapon to attack the Church and try to force Her to accept the unacceptable. An ongoing opportunity to claim that the Church is just so meaaaaaaan and how dare the school teach the truth or allow the poor child even to be exposed to the fact that the people claiming to be his parents are living a lie?
Actually, the bible never said anything about same-sex marriage. The bible also speaks out about divorce, and they are letting children from divorced parents enter
Both the Old and New Testaments condemn homosexuality. Connect the dots. The matter of children whose parents are divorced is quite different, for a variety of reasons.
Charlotte,
In the Gospel of St.Matthew, Christ was explicitly clear regarding what and whom constitutes a marriage: a man and a woman.
I wonder what the church expects will happen to the innocent little Kindergartener would be? Because of the acts of two adults this child has become a punching bag. I don’t recall a punching bag mentioned in the scriptures. However, Jesus did say “bring the little ones to me”.
Your first sentence doesn’t make any sense. I can’t figure out if you left words out, or put extra words in!
The school has a responsibility to all the children in the school. It would be wrong to confuse the other kindergartners and to rob them of their innocence by having to explain to them that Johnny may be telling you that he has two fathers, but he, and they, are wrong.
The two adults who are deluding themsselves that they are actually married have indeed made a punching bag (or a tool, as I said in my post) of the child. It appears to me that the only reason they want to enroll him is to try to force the Church to betray Her teachings. That, and for the attention.
If you think that those two homosexuals aren’t using that child as a punching bag, you’re a fool, Morgan.
“And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the tradition which they have received of us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6
One has to wonder if this whole thing is nothing more then an attempt to embarrass the church, especially the going public bit.
It’s great to finally see some Bishops with backbone to provide some clear guidance as to what is right and wrong.
People just can’t think anymore. They and the 1000 are not thinking what this means to families when they teach their children about reproduction and the “birds and bees”. The simple beauty of GOD’S creation is turned into this stupid battlefield. Poor little boy being abused in that way. OF course we treat all people with dignity that is a separate issue. Please Archdiocese and Priests everywhere stick to the teaching that is clear. I can see so much confusion down the road if they do not stand in the breach and for Christ. “Those who love me will keep my commandments and my Father and I will come and abide with you.” Otherwise the author of confusion will come and abide! Don’t say you haven’t been warned, Open to Life means more than flesh and “the two shall become one” THINK AMERICA