The story of Dominican Sister Jane Dominic Laurel of
Nashville, TN has gone viral. Secular news organizations that did not see
fit to report on the trial of Dr. Gosnell’s abortion house of horrors are
grabbing this one; thereby proving Lesson #1: News is in the eye of the
beholder—or rather in the politics of the beholder.
Nashville, TN has gone viral. Secular news organizations that did not see
fit to report on the trial of Dr. Gosnell’s abortion house of horrors are
grabbing this one; thereby proving Lesson #1: News is in the eye of the
beholder—or rather in the politics of the beholder.
To recap, Sr. Laurel had
presented her talk on “Masculinity
and Femininity: Difference and Gift,” at Charlotte
Catholic High School. She has a doctorate in sacred theology from the
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Her presentation was based
on a series of instructional videos created for Aquinas College in Nashville
where she is an associate professor. Sr. Laurel was previously well
received at the school. This time, however, comments on the causes and dangers
of homosexuality caused a huge uproar.
presented her talk on “Masculinity
and Femininity: Difference and Gift,” at Charlotte
Catholic High School. She has a doctorate in sacred theology from the
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Her presentation was based
on a series of instructional videos created for Aquinas College in Nashville
where she is an associate professor. Sr. Laurel was previously well
received at the school. This time, however, comments on the causes and dangers
of homosexuality caused a huge uproar.
The school responded by
holding a parents meeting
last Wednesday with diocesan leaders. An estimated 900 parents attended.
According to the Catholic News Herald (the only media outlet
reportedly allowed inside the gathering) emotions boiled over. Booing and
yelling at priests and any who defended them was rampant. Lesson #2:
Dialogue is not the goal. Control over the Catholic agenda is.
holding a parents meeting
last Wednesday with diocesan leaders. An estimated 900 parents attended.
According to the Catholic News Herald (the only media outlet
reportedly allowed inside the gathering) emotions boiled over. Booing and
yelling at priests and any who defended them was rampant. Lesson #2:
Dialogue is not the goal. Control over the Catholic agenda is.
Since everything is
hearsay and there was no recording, I cannot defend or attack the particulars
of Sr. Laurel’s talk. But the whole debacle underlines Lesson #3: The
media is in the back pocket of the pro-homosexual movement. They are
bloodhounds and will catch the scent of any public event or speaker not cordial
to their agenda.
hearsay and there was no recording, I cannot defend or attack the particulars
of Sr. Laurel’s talk. But the whole debacle underlines Lesson #3: The
media is in the back pocket of the pro-homosexual movement. They are
bloodhounds and will catch the scent of any public event or speaker not cordial
to their agenda.
There are real people living on the wrong side of Catholic teaching so certainly, their feelings must be taken into consideration. Jesus was loving but firm, telling those he
healed to sin no more. He was not soft on sin but his mercy and love ran
deep. Sure we should tread lightly but Catholics teaching will not go
away. It seems to be mob rule. Except it’s not. Lesson #5: No
amount of tantrums will change Catholic teaching.
healed to sin no more. He was not soft on sin but his mercy and love ran
deep. Sure we should tread lightly but Catholics teaching will not go
away. It seems to be mob rule. Except it’s not. Lesson #5: No
amount of tantrums will change Catholic teaching.
Where is all the anger is
coming from and do these same people get as heated up about the fact that over
56 million babies have been aborted since Roe v. Wade? Did I just change
the subject? No, it is the subject—morality and which issues
people are passionate about.
coming from and do these same people get as heated up about the fact that over
56 million babies have been aborted since Roe v. Wade? Did I just change
the subject? No, it is the subject—morality and which issues
people are passionate about.
The PC police have an
iron fist these days and these are their rules:
iron fist these days and these are their rules:
* Go
ahead and attack Catholics, especially if you are Catholic.
ahead and attack Catholics, especially if you are Catholic.
* Abort
but don’t you dare show us the pictures.
but don’t you dare show us the pictures.
*
Expecting chastity makes you an idiot.
Expecting chastity makes you an idiot.
* Don’t
deny me my birth control—as a matter of fact, pay for it.
deny me my birth control—as a matter of fact, pay for it.
* Don’t
dare say anything negative about two members of the same sex having a sexual
relationship. Otherwise, expect revenge.
dare say anything negative about two members of the same sex having a sexual
relationship. Otherwise, expect revenge.
Was too much graphic
information given in Sr. Laurel’s talk? Were the statements
scientifically questionable? That would be wrong, but does it rise to the
level of emotional explosion at Charlotte Catholic High school?
information given in Sr. Laurel’s talk? Were the statements
scientifically questionable? That would be wrong, but does it rise to the
level of emotional explosion at Charlotte Catholic High school?
Consider the reports from
the Catholic News Herald.
the Catholic News Herald.
Father Matthew Kauth, the
school’s chaplain arranged for the assembly. One parent told him: “I have
lost confidence. I do not trust your judgment and I do not respect you (Father
Kauth).” Her comments drew loud applause from many others.
school’s chaplain arranged for the assembly. One parent told him: “I have
lost confidence. I do not trust your judgment and I do not respect you (Father
Kauth).” Her comments drew loud applause from many others.
Chaplain, Father Kauth,
as well as Father Roger Arnsparger, diocesan vicar of education, and Charlotte
Catholic’s dean of students and two assistant principals made apologies for any
harm and taking people off guard, acknowledging that some of the talk should
not have been given while still confirming Catholic teaching on issues of human
sexuality. Bishop Peter Jugis was presiding at a church dedication but sent a
statement pleading for respectful conversation and to be “united in the one
faith and in the love of Almighty God.”
as well as Father Roger Arnsparger, diocesan vicar of education, and Charlotte
Catholic’s dean of students and two assistant principals made apologies for any
harm and taking people off guard, acknowledging that some of the talk should
not have been given while still confirming Catholic teaching on issues of human
sexuality. Bishop Peter Jugis was presiding at a church dedication but sent a
statement pleading for respectful conversation and to be “united in the one
faith and in the love of Almighty God.”
But many parents were in
no mood for respect. Over two hours of angry comments and even booing down
priests ensued. “Two observers called the meeting’s climate ‘disrespectful’ and
‘hate-filled.’”
no mood for respect. Over two hours of angry comments and even booing down
priests ensued. “Two observers called the meeting’s climate ‘disrespectful’ and
‘hate-filled.’”
“In his remarks, Fr. Kauth said he brought Sr. Laurel to the school
because he felt students at Charlotte Catholic had been poorly catechized and
were suffering from spiritual darkness, particularly around the issue of
sexuality.”
because he felt students at Charlotte Catholic had been poorly catechized and
were suffering from spiritual darkness, particularly around the issue of
sexuality.”
One parent told Father
Kauth, “You have divided parents, you have divided students, and we’ve
lost respect for you.”
Kauth, “You have divided parents, you have divided students, and we’ve
lost respect for you.”
A parent who said she was
representing homosexual and bisexual students at Charlotte Catholic said Sister
Jane “pounded home the message” that if these students are
questioning their sexual identity, they had better stay in the closet. She also
said she felt the presentation created nothing but an unsafe environment for
these students at the school.
representing homosexual and bisexual students at Charlotte Catholic said Sister
Jane “pounded home the message” that if these students are
questioning their sexual identity, they had better stay in the closet. She also
said she felt the presentation created nothing but an unsafe environment for
these students at the school.
Some parents tried coming
to Father Kauth’s defense but were shouted down by other people. Several
parents thanked Father Kauth profusely for the positive impacts his ministry
has had on their children, who are students at the school. “I trust the
administration here and it has brought very good and energetic talk into our
household,” one parent said, but they were booed.
to Father Kauth’s defense but were shouted down by other people. Several
parents thanked Father Kauth profusely for the positive impacts his ministry
has had on their children, who are students at the school. “I trust the
administration here and it has brought very good and energetic talk into our
household,” one parent said, but they were booed.
Another parent told
Father Kauth, “You don’t know best for our children. What are you planning
on doing for the healing? We want our children to remain Catholic, but we are
being pushed away by the climate of what is going on here.”
Father Kauth, “You don’t know best for our children. What are you planning
on doing for the healing? We want our children to remain Catholic, but we are
being pushed away by the climate of what is going on here.”
The school administrators
said the feedback from the meeting would provide insight for considering any
beneficial changes in current practices. “We recognize and value the
love, care and concern our students have for each other as has been made
evident the last couple of weeks.”
said the feedback from the meeting would provide insight for considering any
beneficial changes in current practices. “We recognize and value the
love, care and concern our students have for each other as has been made
evident the last couple of weeks.”
Sr. Laurel is taking a
sabbatical from teaching and her other speaking engagements have been
cancelled. Sr. Mary Sarah Galbraith, the president of Aquinas College
where Sr. Laurel teaches, issued a statement about the whole ordeal. Although previously
popular speaker Sr. Laurel will not be on the speaker’s circuit any time soon. Lesson #6 In spiritual warfare, expect to take shots.
sabbatical from teaching and her other speaking engagements have been
cancelled. Sr. Mary Sarah Galbraith, the president of Aquinas College
where Sr. Laurel teaches, issued a statement about the whole ordeal. Although previously
popular speaker Sr. Laurel will not be on the speaker’s circuit any time soon. Lesson #6 In spiritual warfare, expect to take shots.
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