Dalton McGuinty, the Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario, claims to be a practising Catholic. (About half of Ontarians who identify themselves as "Christians" are Catholic, at least in name.) He is obviously a heterosexual, with a beautiful wife and numerous kids, and never hesitates to proclaim his belief in "family values". But when it comes to following the teachings of Holy Mother Church, he constantly proves himself one of those "cafeteria Catholics" who takes a pass on any Catholic principles that might cost him votes.
Latest case in point: McGuinty's government's continued pushing of the LGBT agenda in the Ontario educational system. The proposal of former Education Minister Kathleen Wynne -- a proud lesbian -- to start teaching kids as young as 8 or 9 that it's OK to be queer was quietly shelved after cries of outrage from parents (i.e. voters) of all faiths.
But the "gay community" keeps pushing, while at the same time working to hide their agenda under the cloak of something more innocent-sounding. Like anti-bullying legislation. No-one can defend bullying in schools or workplaces, right? And who gets bullied more than homosexuals? Everyone knows that queer-baiting goes on all the time in playgrounds and locker rooms across the province...nay, the nation!
The solution? "Gay-straight alliances". That's what the LGBT crowd wants us to call "hug-a-queer" clubs. And they want every school to have one, with a dedicated space in which gay boys and girls (or those who haven't made up their minds yet) can meet to... errr... do whatever it is they do. [Didn't it used to be the washrooms? Ed.]
Ontario's public school boards, generally dominated by liberal humanitarian "educationists" had no problem with this latest wheeze, but some Catholic boards -- Ontario has a separate, tax-funded "Catholic" school system -- and Catholic school principals drew a line in the sand. They were spurred on by a rare reminder from their bishops of the Church's teaching that homosexuality is morally and physically disordered -- contrary to God's law and natural law. "No gay-straight alliances in Catholic schools!" they said.
You might expect a government led by a Catholic to say it's up to the schools, and they didn't have to have GSAs if they didn't want to. But nooooo... The McGuinty government is a minority government, which means it could fall at any time, precipitating an election. And the queers have a lot of money and a lot of votes. So, better not offend them.
Hence a sudden (but not unexpected) flip-flop on the issue. At a student conference yesterday, Education Minister Laurel Broten announced the Liberal government’s Accepting Schools Act (sic), which gave schools a veto on names for any student club, would be amended, so that all schools — including those in the Catholic system — will not be able to stop students from calling "anti-homophobia clubs" "gay-straight alliances".
"Let’s remember these are student clubs and student voices matter in the naming of a student club," Ms Broten told reporters. A Mississauga student activist was thrilled.
"Our school forced a name on us," said Leanne Iskander, a self-described "queer" who goes to St. Joseph Secondary School, and belongs to the "Open Arms Club" that members hope to re-name.
And you thought Walt was being homophobic to use a word like "queer". That's pretty much what the light-in-the-loafers crowd call themselves. So, no more hissy-fits please.
Will there be a court challenge to the amended legislation, if it passes? Tom Collins -- the cardinal, not the drink -- will make a statement Monday.
Further reading: "Analysis of the Catholic Bishops of Ontario's response to the GSAs demanded by Dalton McGuinty", from Campaign Life Coalition.
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