Catholic school announces no ban on couples

Michael Miller

St. John the Baptist School announced Thursday that it will not

implement a policy this fall banning same-sex couples from visiting

the campus together, ending weeks of speculation by parents and

others in the community who opposed the idea.

At a parents’ meeting at the private Catholic school Thursday

night, officials released the text of a new clause to be included in

the school’s 2005-06 handbook. The clause features a shortened

version of a controversial May 6 memo, which suggested barring

same-sex couples from the campus unless they agreed to not visit

together.

The policy for this fall, approved by Bishop Tod Brown of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, reads: “No one in the context of

the St. John the Baptist School community is to give witness to a

lifestyle that is in conflict with the morality of the Gospel. A

coherent witness to Catholic moral teaching is expected at the

school, especially in behavior which is evident and public.

“Any other kind of behavior needs to be addressed and may need to

be corrected. The Pastor is the final judge in applying this

principle.”

The May 6 memo, which was distributed to teachers, contained the

same language, but added a paragraph saying that the rule meant that

same-sex couples could not set foot on campus together. Although the

memo raised the ire of many in the community, a spokesman for the

church said the proposal was merely under consideration and had never

been approved by the diocese.

Father Norbert Wood, who was appointed as St. John’s new rector at

the Thursday meeting, said the official rule meant that controversial

issues at the school, such as same-sex parents, would be handled on a

case-by-case basis.

“It refers to general situations where there’s a clash between

parents’ lifestyles and Catholic tradition,” Wood said. “We’re

committed to addressing those issues with charity but also fidelity

to the Catholic faith.”

The announcement ended a week of confusion and tension in the St.

John community. Many parents at the school believed that church

officials wouldn’t rehire Sister Mary Vianney, the St. John principal

for 31 years, because of her opposition to the same-sex-couples ban.

On Wednesday, however, the diocese announced that Vianney had been

offered a contract for the coming year.

After the Thursday meeting, Vianney said she never felt that her

job was threatened, and that her opinion on the May 6 memo had no

bearing on the church’s decision.

“I was fearful because [the contract] was later than usual, and

that’s how the rumor got out,” Vianney said. “I was never told I was

not going to have a contract.”

Vianney added that she and Wood, who is a member of the

conservative Norbertine order, would work together as administrators

at the school.

Parents expressed relief at the church’s decision not to implement

a direct policy forbidding same-sex couples. The debate over

homosexuality at the school began when 18 parents signed a petition

seeking the removal of two kindergarteners who had been adopted by a

male Costa Mesa couple.

“I welcome anyone who wants to bring their children to this school

because I believe they’re going to be exposed to a great Catholic

education,” said Tami McClary, whose daughter attends St. John. “I

don’t believe any child or family should be discriminated against.”

* MICHAEL MILLER covers education and may be reached at (714)

966-4617 or by e-mail at michael.miller@latimes.com.