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Washington D.C., Apr 26, 2023 / 16:15 pm (CNA).
Police were called to maintain order at a Catholic school board meeting in Ontario, Canada, during a discussion about whether the board should fly a gay pride flag at its central office throughout June to support gay pride month.
The York Catholic District School Board met Tuesday night to consider the proposal. After hearing two delegations on the proposal and facing disruptions from frustrated Catholic parents, the board did not vote on the initiative.
“The York Catholic District School Board is involved in ongoing conversations with a number of stakeholders about whether or not to fly the Progress Pride Flag at their central office in June,” a statement from the board read.
“There was no motion on the table last night for voting and there has not yet been a decision on flying the Pride Flag at the YCDSB,” the statement continued. “The York Catholic District School Board is committed to our Catholic faith and to the well-being of our students and staff. The YCDSB believes that 2SLGTBQ+ students are loved by God and are valued members of our school communities.”
Some parents who objected to displaying the gay pride flag loudly disrupted the meeting and shouted down the first speaker. After security removed some of the parents from the meeting room, many continued to vocally protest the proposal from the lobby.
About two dozen parents verbally confronted supporters of the pride flag outside the meeting, chanting “shame” in unison and suggesting a lack of fidelity to Catholic teaching. One parent was heard yelling “the devil incarnate,” although it was unclear to whom it was directed, and another parent called supporters a “disgrace.”
Police eventually arrived at the board meeting, at which point many of the parents left. There were no arrests, nor were there any reports of violence, property damage, or physical injuries.
“Many members of the public … remained in the atrium of the board office, where the situation required the police to attend to ensure the safety of all members of the public,” the board’s statement read.
“When the police arrived, many individuals left the board office without being asked to do so,” the statement continued. “The York Catholic District School Board monitors for any possible disruption that could happen before a board meeting and works proactively with security and the police to ensure the safety of all those who attend our meetings.”
The board represents 85 Catholic elementary schools and 16 Catholic secondary schools across nine municipalities in Southern Ontario, which serve about 50,000 students combined. In Ontario, Catholic schools are publicly funded and local decisions are made by a Catholic school board rather than the Catholic diocese.
This is the second month in a row that police were called to a York Catholic District School Board meeting. In March, police showed up after some parents caused loud disruptions while voicing their opposition to the creation of safe spaces for students who identify as 2SLGTBQ+.
There are 37 Catholic school districts in Ontario. Last June, more than 80% of them publicly promoted some form of LGBT pride, which sometimes included the display of gay pride flags.
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I’ll go with Toronto (emeritus) Cardinal Collins on this one.
It’s deja vu all over again.
One wonders if our (Ontario) Catholic school board trustees have heard Pope Francis on gender ideology. Or the Scandinavian bishops.
Good for theses parents, that school is supposed to teach About God and God’s well not against God and his well.
Canada used to be a nice country with pleasant if bland people. In the last two years they have stripped their citizens and religious leaders of most of their civil rights.Stripped their truckers of most of their personal funds. Arrested several protestant ministers for the “sin” of holding services. They have gone nuts. Americans with brains should bypass this place and take their tourist dollars to parts of the US. They have gone leftist nuts in Canada and it is a shame to see it. They need to vote out Trudeau as soon as possible.
What the? The above two comments from me were in response to a previous article. Still valid so I’ll stand by them.
Re this article. The York Catholic Board did in fact decide against displaying the flag by a vote of 6-4, if I’m not mistaken. (The York Catholic Board represents the area directly north of Toronto, our provincial capital).
Canada is no longer a democracy. The laws of the land outlaw hand guns, greatly restricted long gun use, euthanasia of depressed and handicapped people and warrantless arrest. We have housing, school, hospital and doctor shortages but Prime Minister Trudeau is inviting a million immigrants in each year for the next three years. All this with a minority government that surely won`t hold.