Gordon will continue to uphold Catholic teaching in the pastoral care of same-sex attracted youth in the Catholic schools despite opposition from the Yukon government.
The controversy swirls around a document entitled “One Heart: Living with Hope, Ministering by Love, Teaching in Truth” that outlines Catholic teaching on human dignity and homosexuality and gives clear guidelines to teachers and counsellors in dealing with same-sex attracted youth.
The document echoes the Ontario Catholic Scho ol Trustees’ Association’s Respecting Difference document and stresses the human dignity of all students, Catholic teaching on human sexuality and marriage, an understanding of natural law and no tolerance for derogatory remarks, harassment or name-calling.
The document calls for the creation of potential groups for students concerned about bullying under the name of “One Heart” groups, similar to the call from the OCSTA’s decision to create “Respecting Difference” groups open to all students, not just same-sex attracted. However, provinces are pressuring Catholic schools to allow Gay-Straight Alliances.
The news media has targeted in on quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that describe homosexual acts being “acts of grave depravity,” “contrary to natural law.”
Education Minister Scott Kent, in an open letter March 19, wrote to the bishop advising him the diocese’s “policy is inconsistent with and does not meet all of the requirements of Yukon education’s policies and likely other laws in force in the Yukon.” Kent sent the letter to Gordon after a meeting with the bishop March 5. Kent acknowledged the role of Catholic teaching in the Catholic separate schools, but insisted Yukon education policies and the laws of the Yukon have priority.
Gordon said he preferred not to comment because he is in the midst of sensitive discussions with the Yukon government. There are three publicly funded Catholic schools on the Whitehorse diocese that covers the Yukon.
The Catholic Civil Rights League came to the bishop’s defence.
“The reasons why Catholic schools exist is to teach the Catholic religion,” said league executive director Joanne McGarry, noting doctrines on homosexuality “are only a small part of the whole of Catholic teaching parents expect when they send their children to Catholic schools.”