Catholic Schools and the Rainbow Flag

On Thursday May 6^th the Toronto Catholic District School Board voted in favour of proclaiming Pride Month every June. The Rainbow Flag will be raised at the Board Office and at all TCDSB schools.

Board members and trustees justified this radical move by appealing to the ideal of inclusivity. I quote ... “We recognize that this is an important step required to demonstrate the TCDSB’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive environments that are safe and welcoming places for 2SLGBTQ+ students and staff,"

As Catholic Christians we certainly aim to provide a welcoming environment in our schools. In fact, the word Catholic means universal. In the name of Jesus Christ we open our arms and our hearts to all of God’s children. We live by his commandment to love God and our neighbor.

This Catholic sense of openness and welcome finds its deepest expression in the Eucharist. In the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood all are equal. We become one body in the Lord. He is our source of unity and peace.

As Catholics we have no need of the rainbow flag. It has strong connections with groups and movements whose politics and agendas are not our own. We have our own powerful symbol of inclusiveness, the crucifixes displayed in every classroom. They speak of the sacrificial love of Jesus. And proclaim a powerful word of welcome to all who enter the doors of our schools.

This issue is a sensitive one. His Eminence Cardinal Collins has publicly addressed it many times, and continues to dialogue with our partners in Catholic education. But legally speaking, Cardinal Collins has no authority to change School Board policies. That’s in the hands of our elected Catholic School Trustees. He can only counsel and encourage.

Parents, if you want a strong Catholic school system, rooted firmly in the mind and heart of Jesus Christ, it’s up to you to make that happen. Do you know who your local trustee is? Did you cast a vote for him or her in the last provincial election? Did you bother to ask questions of faith before casting your ballot?

Like it or not, the rainbow flag will fly over St. Clement School during the Month of June. Faced with that sad reality, perhaps it’s time for all of us to consider what sort of schools we want for our children. Perhaps it’s time for us to adopt the mind and heart of Jesus Christ.

Msgr. Paul Zimmer
Pastor, St Clement Catholic Church, Etobicoke