Fired as 'scapegoat': ex-principal

David Hood says he was fired as principal of Christ the King School because Catholic authorities panicked over widespread media attention over his proposals to involve the school in anti-abortion prayer vigils.

Speaking out for the first time, Hood said in a lengthy letter to the editor of the Free Press he was fired because the newspaper chose "to propagate lies" and because the Catholic authorities used him as a scapegoat to deflect unwanted public attention.

Throughout, he has lived by deeply held Catholic beliefs that the school and its parish embrace, Hood said.

An interview published Oct. 12 drew national attention and is the most-commented-upon story ever posted on the Free Press website.

Hood said in an Oct. 11 interview he was encouraging parents to take part in anti-abortion prayer vigils outside Health Sciences Centre. He hoped to make the vigils an official school activity for both parents and students of the St. Vital kindergarten-to-Grade 8 private school as early as next September. And, Hood said, if any student took part in the vigils this school year, that could count toward their required community service.

Hood has accused the Free Press of manipulating and distorting comments he'd "allegedly" made, and of leading readers to believe he would grant academic credit to students participating in anti-abortion prayer vigils.

"The fallout from these allegations has not only cost me my job of many dedicated years in Catholic education but has caused undue hardship to my wife and family of seven children," Hood wrote.

Hood said he placed an article in the school newsletter in September about the prayer vigils.

"The newsletter suggested that it would be nice to see students and families participating. Christ the King Parish bulletin also advertised the vigil. Some parents were upset by the inclusion of the advertisement in the school newsletter, citing I should keep my personal pro-life views to myself. The sanctity of human life is a precept of the Catholic faith. We are a Catholic school. What then, is the issue?" he wrote.

"Many schools, public and independent, see students involved in political and social activities outside of the physical school building -- many to obtain community service hours. The 40 Days for Life Vigil is a peaceful and prayerful activity underscoring a major church teaching: the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. While abortion may be a controversial issue in the public sphere, it is considered a grave offence in the eyes of the church. (Catechism of the Catholic Church Article 2270-2275)," Hood wrote.

"I have to believe I was originally hired at Christ the King School because I have qualities and strengths they were looking for," Hood said. "It would seem that those who might have shown support during this time succumbed to media hype -- which I believe resulted in my dismissal.

"In the end I feel I was used as a scapegoat by those in power -- who became uncomfortable with the situation and the media attention it garnered," he wrote.

"And let's not forget, caught in the middle of all of this, are the most vulnerable in our society. The souls whom I was trying to protect in the first place: our future students and citizens who are still in the womb. This is the real travesty," Hood wrote.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Unfolding events

The timeline that led to former principal David Hood's departure from Christ the King School:

Hood granted an interview with the Free Press Oct. 11 about the school's possible involvement in anti-abortion prayer vigils outside Health Science Centre.

An article published Oct. 12 immediately drew national attention. Hood spent the day meeting with director of education Robert Praznik. Christ the King's board of directors met that evening; they repudiated Hood's proposals and said none of them would happen.

On Oct. 14, Praznik announced Hood had been placed on paid leave.

Hood returned to work Oct. 25. He had spent the previous Saturday with archdiocese officials, including Archbishop Albert LeGatt, who announced a consultation process among the Catholic school community to examine how to teach children in an age-appropriate way about the church's beliefs on respect for life.

By Dec. 1, Christ the King School had a new principal. Praznik would not discuss whose decision it was for Hood to leave, and Hood did not respond to interview requests.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 10, 2012 A4