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MPP Threatens Court Action, Public Funding Cut and to “Embroil” World Youth Day

OSHAWA, April 9, 2002 (LSN.ca) – At a meeting of the Durham Region Catholic School Board last night, the board heard arguments for and against allowing a 17-year-old male student to bring his 21-year-old “boyfriend” John Paul Dumond to his Catholic school’s prom on May 10. The student, Marc Hall, was permitted to make a presentation to the board and 6 other delegations addressed the board on the issue.

Ontario Liberal MPP George Smitherman, a self-proclaimed homosexual, addressed the meeting in a threatening fashion. He warned that beyond court action, the case would “embroil World Youth Day” and threaten Catholic school funding. Two other homosexual activists and a friend of Hall’s spoke against the school board’s decision. Michael Connell, a representative of the Catholic Civil Rights League, and Manatte Selmys, a former lesbian who converted to Catholicism, spoke in defence of the board decision. Hall addressed the meeting vowing to take the issue to court if the board refused his request.

Following the presentations, Board Chair Mary Ann Martin explained the Board’s decision to continue to refuse Hall’s request: “The teaching of the Catholic Church on homosexuality is very clear and well understood by Catholics and many others. .. In a pluralistic society like Ontario, there’s room for different viewpoints and different practices. However, we consider those who would force their views on us, and have our Board ignore the teachings of the Catholic Church as being intolerant of our religion,” said Ms. Martin.

After the meeting Hall called the board “homophobic” and said he plans to take his ‘boyfriend’ to the prom nonetheless. He said his lawyer will ask for a court injunction to reverse the board’s decision

See related LifeSite coverage:  CATHOLIC BOARD THREATENED WITH LAWSUIT ON FORBIDDING HOMOSEXUAL PROM DATE   https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/apr/020404.html#1 MEDIA CIRCUS OVER CATHOLIC SCHOOL BANNING STUDENT’S HOMOSEXUAL DANCE PARTNER https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/mar/020320.html#2 GAY ACTIVISTS INCREASE MEDIA HYPE AGAINST FAITHFUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/apr/020402.html#3