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BY LifeSiteNews.com By Patrick B. CraineTORONTO, Ontario, January 15, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario have rejected a “Gender Studies” course that is being promoted by the Ontario Ministry of Education.The grade 11 course aims to help students “understand the meaning of gender identity and norms of femininity and masculinity,” according to the draft document, which is available on a Ministry website.The bishops' education commission decided to reject the course at a December 7th meeting, after which they sent a letter to all of the Catholic chairs and directors of education in the province.“The fundamental thrust of this proposed optional course reflects an ideology which is at variance with Catholic anthropology and moral teaching,” wrote Bishop Paul-André Durocher, chair of the education commission and Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall.“Consequently, we would recommend that Catholic secondary schools NOT include the proposed Gender Studies course in their syllabus of course offerings,” he continued, in bold print.Among many expectations, the course plans to inculcate an appreciation for “the struggle for women's rights,” including “access to birth control information” and “reproductive rights.”  Additionally, students will analyze the “struggle for the recognition of rights for sexual minorities,” dealing with such issues as  same-sex “marriage” and homosexual adoption.One section of the expectations seeks to have students evaluate individuals or groups who have promoted “equality between men and women and changing gender roles in society.”  According to the course draft, one such model of “equality” is the infamous Canadian abortionist Henry Morgentaler.  Another is Egale, one of Canada's leading homosexualist organizations.In their letter, the bishops suggested two alternative courses, both dealing with “equity and social justice,” if Catholic high schools desire to offer more social science options.  They indicated that once the expectations for these courses are released, the Institute for Catholic Education will integrate Catholic social teachings into the curriculum.LifeSiteNews attempted to contact the Bishops' Assembly for comment, but did not hear back by press time.The education commission's decision about the “Gender Studies” course followed their reception of a December 1st  letter of concern from Campaign Life Catholic, which was presented at the meeting.“We were pleased with [the bishops'] response,” said Mary Ellen Douglas of Campaign Life Catholic.“When we discovered this [program], it didn't take long to read it to alert us to the concerns that were in there that were not following Catholic teaching,” she told LifeSiteNews.  “There were very serious things the matter with this program that might have gone right into grade 11.”Not all Catholic parties agree, however.  The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA), which has become notorious for its promotion of feminist and homosexualist causes despite its role as the official Catholic teachers union, has actually made a public stand in promoting the course.In March 2008, OECTA representatives joined Ontario NDP Women's Issues Critic Cheri DiNovo and the Miss G__ Project for Equity in Education in holding a press conference in which they called on the McGuinty government to implement the course.  The Miss G__ Project, which currently has the implementation of this course as its main objective, lists the OECTA Toronto Secondary Unit as a financial supporter on its website.“They're going to have to step back,” commented Douglas.  OECTA's support of the course “doesn't surprise me at all,” she said, “but I'm hoping that they still have enough respect for the Church that they will listen to the Assembly of Bishops in Ontario.”While it would appear the Ontario bishops' leadership will prevent the course from being taught in Catholic schools, it continues to be promoted for inclusion in the public high schools.“I think the parents in the public school are going to have to be aware of curriculum changes that are coming in for their own students and speak up when things are contrary to their faith,” said Douglas.  “I don't think there's any doubt they're going to have to take that role, as we do in the Catholic schools.”See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:Ontario Gvmt Won’t Say Whether Catholic Schools Can Teach Beliefs on Homosexualityhttp://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jan/10010807.htmlLesbian Ontario Education Minister Hires "Homophobia" Watchdog for Schools http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08031309.htmlOntario Catholic Teachers Run Far Left Conference Promoting Gay Activismhttp://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/aug/06082202.html http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ontario-bishops-reject-high-school-gender-studies-course/

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