June 22, 2018 (Everyday For Life Canada) – The elementary and high school Catholic teachers in Toronto have been sent an email from their union leaders inviting them to “Come Celebrate Toronto Pride”. The message encourages teachers to walk in solidarity with their union representatives on June 25, 2018.
Will the Catholic union be marching in solidarity for the Kemptville chaplain who lost his position because he chose to defend Catholic teaching? We don't think so. Chaplaincy leaders are supposed to defend and teach the Catholic faith. But these are times of political correctness. Will the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) come to support the chaplain in the same way they are prepared to stand for sexual diversity and equity education event? We doubt this too. Where is the bishop responsible for the school's religious curriculum?
OECTA stopped being a Catholic union years ago. The fact that Dave Szollosy a counselor for the Toronto Secondary Unit helped push the passage of three resolutions that are completely anti-Catholic back in 2011 says it all. We will quote two of those resolutions because they reveal much about the present morally bankrupt state of OECTA:
Resolution 1: “That the Association endorse and encourage the formation of support groups keeping with the philosophy and objectives of gay/straight alliances.” The union was working together with the Dalton McGuinty Liberal government of the day and Egale Canada. Where are the bishops?
Resolution 2: “That the Association set a bargaining priority for the protection (from dismissal, failure for promotion, harassment in exercising leadership) of all teachers with regard to sexual orientation and sexual identity and make collective agreements consistent with the Human Rights Code.” There is nothing in this approved motion that is Catholic. In fact, it contradicts Catholic teaching about the person and human sexuality. We learn in Genesis 1:27, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
The resolutions have nothing to do with Catholic teaching. However, they are the work of activists who undermine and subvert Catholic pedagogy. So, it should not be a surprise to anyone following the work of OECTA and its members that the association fully supports Pride activities. (The third resolution was anti-Israel statement.) Union executives are politicians and activists, not teachers.
It's also worth noting that Dave Szollosy and Kevin Godin were instructors of a course tilted, “Foundation in Catholic Education.” It's the mandatory course for all new Catholic teachers held at the Toronto campuses by Niagara University. The course covered explicit topics that were not mentioned in the outline. For example, one topic asked teachers to reflect on their views of nudity and sexuality. The primary goal of the course wasn't to teach Catholic doctrine about human sexuality. Instead, it prepared teachers to instruct the radical sexual content of the Liberal's government new sex-ed curriculum. It was introduced through the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy in 2009, and implemented as part of Ontario's Health and Physical Education program in 2015. This is the same controversial curriculum that Premier-designate Doug Ford promised during the election to repeal. Let's hope he keeps his word.
Former OECTA president James Ryan fully supported members marching in the Pride parade. He continues to do. The current leadership is no different. OECTA should at the very least remove the word Catholic in their name. The bishops could do this. It's false advertising. Parents should not be fooled. OECTA has become a secular activist organization working hard to undo Catholic teaching about the human person, sexuality and marriage.
Published with permission from Everyday For Life Canada.