Anti-abortion vigils prompt review at Catholic schools

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/10/2011 (5416 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A school principal’s plan to involve students in anti-abortion protests has forced the Archdiocese of St. Boniface to examine how its schools teach students about the church’s beliefs on respect for life.

Christ the King School principal David Hood returned to his office Tuesday, after being on paid leave for nine days because of an interview he gave to the Free Press about his plans to make anti-abortion prayer vigils an official school activity for both students and parents.

The archdiocese has asked parents of the 200 kids in the kindergarten to Grade 8 school in St. Vital for their help “as we all journey on this path of re-establishing trust and relationships within our school community.”

A letter signed by Archbishop Albert LeGatt, parish priest Renato Pasinato and Christ the King school board chairwoman Teresita Chiarelli tells parents the incident created a difficult atmosphere in the school that was tough to resolve.

LeGatt said respect for life is a core principle of Catholic beliefs. Through the Archdiocesan Catholic Education Council, all schools will consult their communities to determine how children will learn that principle in age-appropriate ways, the archbishop advised Christ the King School parents. Church and school leaders needed to act quickly to “ensure the well-being of and the appropriate learning environment for our children while in school.”

LeGatt and Hood met Saturday with church and education leaders from the archdiocese.

Hood had been placed on paid leave after an Oct. 12 article in the Free Press became a national story within hours of publication.

Hood said in an interview Oct. 11 he had recently asked parents through the school newsletter to volunteer to join the anti-abortion prayer vigils held daily outside the Health Sciences Centre.

The principal said he hoped to make the anti-abortion protests an official school activity for both students and parents as early as next year, and further said that any student who takes part in the vigils this year could count the time outside the hospital towards required community service.

Christ the King School’s board immediately repudiated Hood’s plans and declared that no such activities would be organized through the school.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca