“Catholic” Liberal leader takes strong anti-Catholic position
TORONTO, March 28, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty and admitted homosexual and fellow Liberal MPP George Smitherman have written Durham Catholic District School Board trustees asking them to allow a male student to bring a male date to his prom. In the letter, obtained by LifeSite, McGuinty, a Catholic, accuses the school board of being “unfair” and offending “the freedoms that have made Canada a welcome home for people in all their diversity.”
McGuinty alleges the student is “being denied some of his most basic rights as a human being and as a Canadian.” Concluding his letter, McGuinty writes, “I am appealing to you as a Canadian, as a Catholic and as the father of four to change your decision.”
The Toronto Sun reports that the openly homosexual Toronto Centre-Rosedale Liberal MPP George Smitherman said he’ll be unveiling a list of high-profile people who are lobbying the school board. On the other hand, political observers note that officials defending traditional principles frequently do not hear from the many people who agree with them and who sadly take courageous actions for granted.
Michael Powers, principal of Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School in Oshawa, told 17-year-old student Marc Hall that allowing his 21-year-old homosexual ‘boyfriend’ as a date for the prom would contravene Church teaching and school policy. The school board backed the decision. Earlier this week the head of the Canadian Auto Workers union attacked the school over its decision.
Thomas Langan, president of the Catholic Civil Rights League stated: “In entering into this debate in this fashion, Mr. McGuinty apparently does not understand the true meaning of a pluralistic society. If the leader of the opposition for Ontario is pressuring an institution as fundamental and major as the Roman Catholic Church to change its beliefs and not be true to its faith, how can we respect his balancing of rights in society as a whole?”
The CCRL President also questioned continued Catholic support for the Party. “Traditionally, many Catholics have supported the Liberal Party in Canada and Ontario precisely because it wanted to help Catholics fight for basic human rights. Now the Liberal leader too wants to interfere with and ignore basic Catholic morality and Catholic rights.”
See related LifeSite coverage: MEDIA CIRCUS OVER CATHOLIC SCHOOL BANNING STUDENT’S HOMOSEXUAL DANCE PARTNER http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/mar/020320.html#2 AUTO UNION WORKER PRESIDENT THREATENS CATHOLIC SCHOOL OVER HOMOSEXUALITY http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/mar/020325.html#4
To express your support for the board all trustee emails are listed at: http://www.durhamrc.edu.on.ca/html/about_dcdsb.html
Express your concerns to Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty: dalton_mcguinty-mpp@ontla.ola.org