Just days before the Pride Month began, the Niagara Catholic District School Board sent a letter announcing its decision – for the first time – to fly the flag of pride in all schools and venues throughout June.
The letter, written by education director Camilo Cipriano, said Niagara Catholic was waving a locally created version of the flag designed by officials at the president’s office at Brock University.
Cipriano wrote that while “not all of our families support waving the flag of pride in progress … we see the flag as a very clear and public display that all who come to Catholic schools and sites in Niagara are welcome, accepted, unconditionally loved and respected as children of God. ”
It is, he added, a visible statement that schools are “safe, inclusive places to learn and grow”.
Since the letter was sent to families in late May, Niagara Catholic teacher Elizabeth Murphy-Sample said all of her 5th grade children’s virtual liturgies through the Virgin Mary of the Scapular Church in Niagara Falls and her pastor, Father Paul McNeill, were canceled.
At Fort Erie, Victory Catholic Primary School confirmed to The St. Catharines Standard that its employees received a letter from the church of St. Michael, written by Father Patrick Gilmory, which states that he “made the very difficult decision not to enter school while the flag of pride was raised.”
Neither the Church of the Virgin Mary Scapular nor the Church of St. Michael responded to The Standard’s request for comment.
Murphy-Sample wants to see the flag continue to rise, because children must be at the heart of “everything we do as educators.” Through their young eyes, she said, the flag symbolizes that everyone is welcome.
“It is extremely discouraging for some of our local priests to refuse to enter schools while the flag of pride is waving. “The world needs our religious leaders to preach unconditional love and inclusion in our schools and communities now more than ever,” Murphy-Sample said.
“We need to protect the rights (of children) of a safe and inclusive learning environment. If it matters to a child, then it’s worth it. “
The spokesman of the diocese St. Katharina Margaret Jong said that Bishop Gerard Bergi had left it to the priests individually and “to their conscience whether they are comfortable or not comfortable going to school”.
“The bishop made it clear that the children, the staff, the school, they are all welcome in the church and there is no problem with them entering the church,” Yong said. “We all believe and certainly want our Catholic schools and Catholic institutions … to be open, accepting and inclusive.
Responding to the reasons for raising the Pride flag – including celebrating the beauty, dignity and uniqueness of all people on their personal journey, as Cipriano wrote in a note to Niagara’s Catholic staff – Yong said: “We certainly want to let’s be loving and friendly, even if we don’t agree. “
Asked how the refusal of priests to enter school buildings was part of an inclusive message, Jong said it was a different view of what the flag was.
“From a Catholic point of view, this is much more than (inclusion) – so things that would contradict Catholic or Christian teachings about marriage, family, gender,” Yong said. “It means a lot more than accepting and including.”
OUTNiagara co-chair Celeste Turner grew up Roman Catholic in St. Catherine. The first time they asked about the word gay, Turner remembered being told, “People like people of the same sex,” followed by “those people go to hell.”
While praising the steps taken by the Niagara Catholic Council to promote inclusion, Turner said actions speak louder than words, and priests who refuse to hold a liturgy or enter a school while the flag is raised “send really strong message “.
“If you really say they are God’s children and you take care of them and accept them no matter what, then what does it matter what the flag is flying,” Turner said. “I don’t understand how this prevents you from sharing your message and prevents you from wanting the best for these children.”
Turner said LGBTQ + youth are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual cisgender peers, and that these actions “perpetuate this intolerance and rejection.”
In an email to Niagara Catholics Communications Officer Jennifer Pellegrini, the board was among most Ontario Catholic flags carrying the Pride flag this year.
This is a continuation of “our commitment to be living examples of our faith” and the understanding of 2SLGBTQ + students is at “higher risk of mental health challenges, self-harm or other tragic consequences due to harassment or a sense of difference,” she said. .
Responding to the decision of some priests to cancel liturgies or enter school grounds during the month of pride, Pellegrini said the board has always enjoyed strong relations with its diocese and its parishes.
“We respect and value both Bishop Bergi and our parish priests as important partners in Catholic education, and we look forward to continuing this partnership.
Pellegrini confirmed that there were two protests this week, including at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Niagara Falls and the Catholic Education Center.
People arrived at the Weland Training Center on Wednesday afternoon, advising staff that “they are there to pray the rosary and intend to leave when they are done.” They were allowed to do so in the front parking area, Pellegrini said, and left in about an hour.
“We know that there are members of the Catholic community who do not agree with Niagara Catholic’s decision to fly the Pride flag. Their prayer vigil was in response to that decision. “
Sacred Heart does not currently have flags raised at the school due to mechanical problems, but the board expects them to return to Niagara Falls School next week. The other board buildings in Niagara have flags raised, following the flag protocol, Pellegrini said, which means they go down every night and go up every morning.
OECTA Niagara Elementary Unit President Jennifer MacArthur said carrying the flag was in support of the Association for Human Rights and Freedoms and helped create a safe and friendly environment.
Catholic teachers, she said, “want to make sure our 2SLGBTQIA + communities feel accepted. We are proud that our school board joined several other Catholic boards throughout the province when it decided to wave the flag of pride.
“It is disappointing that any priest would choose to stop serving our students while the flag of pride flies in our schools,” MacArthur said.
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