Apologetics 101: Children of gay parents in Catholic schools

Two requests made by lesbian parents in Denver and Boston to send their kids to Catholic Schools have turned heads in the past month. Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley admitted the petitioning student, citing that the purpose of Catholic teaching has always been the children.

On the other side of the coin, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput requested that two girls not not renew their attendance in the next year because of their parents' lesbian relationship. Advocacy circles on all sides of the debate, from LGTB rights groups to Protestant pastors have commented in the press.

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Chaput's decision seems heavy handed in this situation, but he took reasonable pastoral actions to facilitate the school. How genuine can the lesbian parents' actions be, when they attempt to give the children for which they care a Catholic Education, while living and unapologetically non-catholic lifestyle? In Catholic teaching, via Cannon Law (Can. 796 ß2), procreating and teaching children is primarily the parents' responsibility, and secondarily the school's. Chaput, as the head the of school, understandably must not react well to someone who, in a Catholic view, is not taking their primary responsibility seriously.

One might contend with Chaput's decision by saying that all the parents in that school and everywhere are imperfect, so why single out homosexuals? What about those who are cohabitating, of which there must be many. I believe Chaput would react similarly to those who actively intend to go against the teachings of the Church, thus implying or outright saying those teachings are wrong, and pursuantly disrupting the Parent - School - Child relationship. For instance, if a parent wrote an article in the paper claiming that marriage is no longer needed, Chaput would and should have the right to, at the least, confront that parent and question whether they truly desire a Catholic education for their child.

Many times in life, one can be wrong, even for all the right reasons. Chaput may be this type of wrong. The institution of the Catholic Church exists, among other reasons, but, principally for the communion of humanity with our Lord Jesus Christ, and the proselytization of that eucharist. Are we to deny these children a chance at such a relationship because of their parent's folly?

The homosexual parents on the other hand are right, even with some wrong reasoning. They are disrespecting the Church and its teachings, as well as the school-child-parent relationship. But in the end, they are giving their kids a chance at a connection with God and his Church.