Catholic HS in MI yanks speaker at graduation for being engaged and gay...

[Jubilee on Earth]

A Mt. Pleasant, MI high school pulled a keynote speaker from their program after finding out that he's not only gay, but also engaged. People from around the country are outraged and bombarding the school administration with petition signatures and comments, such as "True Christians beleive in unconditional LOVE. Stop discrimination & hatred in our schools," and "As an alum of SHA, I find this disgraceful. It's sad to see my school and (former) church drift so far away from the teachings of Jesus, who I'm certain would not approve of the way they are treating this young man. Shame."

Those who oppose this young man speaking say that it's not so much that he's gay, but the fact that he's engaged. They say that the private Catholic school/church does not support gay marriage, and does not feel that this person is the best choice to represent the school and its principles and beliefs.

Here's the link to the Change.org petition, which is being signed by people from around the country. If you have a comment or opinion either way, don't hesitate to sign your own name and send a comment. All petition signatures are emailed to the school administration.

http://www.change.org/petitions/sacr...ing-homophobia

[Scrapman]

We are taught not to persecute or bring harm to these people . But we do not have to accept or condone there life style ....
and you can't force us .....
SCRAPMAN

[Be Well]

It's a Catholic High School. Within their rights. If someone doesn't like it, try to change the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Besides, homosexuality is a mental illness and sexual perversion. People should be free to treat people as individuals.

[Disciple]

Good to see someone taking a stand for right.

[Maryh]

It is a private Catholic school. They can have the speakers they choose. Also the parents are sending their children to that school to be taught their faith and do not expect an engaged gay person to be a speaker. Catholics believe gay "marriage" is sinful.

[Michigan Majik]

This is where I live.
Very ironic because the Bishop involved was involved in a pedophilia scandal in another state. *
I fully support Dominic and his family.

*Link: http://www.abc12.com/story/17039799/...bishop-cistone

[Batt]

Is this the same speaker mentioned in this story?

As many as 100 high school students walked out of a national journalism conference after an anti-bullying speaker began cursing, attacked the Bible and reportedly called those who refused to listen to his rant “pansy asses.”

The speaker was Dan Savage, founder of the “It Gets Better” project, an anti-bullying campaign that has reached more than 40 million viewers with contributors ranging from President Obama to Hollywood stars. Savage also writes a sex advice column called “Savage Love.”

Savage, and his husband, were also guests at the White House for President Obama’s 2011 LGBT Pride Month reception. He was also invited to a White House anti-bullying conference.

Highlight,mine.
Link:Anti-Bullying speaker curses

[Michigan Majik]

Is this the same speaker mentioned in this story?

Highlight,mine.
Link:Anti-Bullying speaker curses

No.

[Jubilee on Earth]

You know, this story has been bugging me all evening. I fully support the school for standing up and pulling that man as the keynote speaker. I blogged about it, with my views as a Christian should anyone care to read it.

It's been two years to the week since my last blog post. I've talked about and read about a great many things that had gotten my blood boiling over the past two years, but none that had me dusting off my old blog. This did it. It's heresy, plain and simple. This sort of thing would not have happened even just 20 years ago. The world is very quickly heading towards its end...

http://michigal.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-does-jesus-loves-really-mean-story.html

[Cabal]

They are within their right to pull the speaker... It's their school
plain and simple...

[naturallysweet]

It's nice to see someone standing up for their faith.

Why would a homosexual want to speak at a Catholic High School anyway?

[Last Resort]

Why would he not give a speech at a Lutheran or reformation or other church that condones homosexual marriage? More to the point, why did the school book him in the first place? Research, people, research (speaking to the HS staff, not youse guys).

[Anrol5]

It is a private Catholic school. They can have the speakers they choose. Also the parents are sending their children to that school to be taught their faith and do not expect an engaged gay person to be a speaker. Catholics believe gay "marriage" is sinful.

Some? Many? perhaps, but I suspect not all parents do that.

I am on the board of governors of a church school, and time and time again, the church keeps telling me, how much the parents appreciate the "church Ethos" within the school. Utter rubbish! We send our children there, because the children receive a fantastic education. The overwhelming majority of parents, don’t care one iota, about religion. They care about high calibre education. Are the children learning reading writing, maths etc. Are the children well behaved? Is there bullying? And is it dealt with? and so on.

It never ceases to amaze me how many "religious" people can’t see that.

This boy was judged capable of giving a speech. He was judged on his abilities, And then sacked for something external. HE was discriminated against.

The other thing I care about is whether my children are taught in school to be polite to everyone, To treat everyone equally. To show respect for others regardless of colour, religion, disability, and so on.

I hate the way religion teaches people it is OK to discriminate.

In this case the Catholic church has treated this boy very, very badly. This boy is now out of pocket. The very least they could do, if they have withdrawn the invite is refund his expenses. But then I never expect the Catholic Church to behave honourably. It is a body that by enlarge is incapable of behaving ethically. Yes there are the occasional person who behaves well, but if anyone wants to advance in the church, they have to play the dirty game of politics. And it shows.

Before you start saying I hate Catholics. I hate bad behaviour. It doesn’t matter if it is Christians of all varieties, any other religion or atheists, bad behaviour is unacceptable.

They are within their right to pull the speaker... It's their school
plain and simple...

I agree, but shouldn't they compensate him for his losses

Anrol

[Maryh]

In a private Catholic school, the children are trained in their religion so it would be hypocritical to have an actively gay speaker at the school. It is not discriminating, it is holding onto the faith and passing it to the children. People just don't get it, the most important thing to some parents is passing on their faith to their children and the school assist them in doing it, not teaching them that any lifestyle is ok with God. As for paying him, once they found out his lifestyle, I would say that his lifestyle cancelled his contract. He knew what the school stood for concerning his choices. I am so sick and tired of everyone having to be politically and "socially" correct in order not to hurt feelings. Sometimes you just have to stand up for what you believe. You love the person but not the sin and if they persist in it, they cannot be allowed to be presented to children that everything is ok. Sometime people's choices are not just ok! Yes Jesus loves the man but not his choice. Yes the Catholic school administrator would present the view of Jesus.

[topcat46]

Sometimes the way our society has turned evil into good and how society defends and celebrates evil leaves me speechless.

ETA: It's also easy to see the groundwork being laid for the ultimate persecution of true Christians who won't accept the (im)morality of the world.