TORONTO, May 13, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A new Toronto District Catholic School Board motion up for vote on May 23, seeks to reject the Ontario Liberal Government’s enforcement of homosexual activist clubs in Catholic schools. "The Anti-Bullying Clubs Policy Change" motion supports the anti-bullying program recommended by the Archdiocese of Toronto, which opposes bullying of any type in school, thus rejecting Premier Dalton McGuinty’s insistence on homosexual-focused anti-bullying clubs. (See the motion here)

The motion, submitted by Toronto District Catholic School Board Trustee Garry Tanuan and seconded by Trustee John Del Grande, has the support of Catholic ratepayers and parents groups around the province which fought the legislation passed in June which attempted to force compliance by Catholic schools.

Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition, told LifeSiteNews.com: “I think it’s very courageous of Garry and John. More importantly, this motion is in keeping with the Catholic faith. I applaud them for showing leadership in bullying solutions that respects Catholic teaching. I encourage all supporters of Catholic education, especially in Toronto, to ask their trustees to support this motion.”

Taking its cue from legal opinion rendered after the passage of Bill 13, the motion notes, “The provincial government is breaking the law by violating s. 93 of the Constitution, which enshrines the denominational rights of the Catholic schools,” by insisting on Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs, which “promote a positive view of homosexual activity, which undermines Catholic teaching on chastity and marriage.”

The motion quotes Cardinal Thomas Collins noting that “the key issue is not just the [GSA] name itself, but the content connected with the name.”

The trustees recall that it is their duty to “protect Catholic school principals from being forced to betray their Catholic values.” Moreover, the motion notes that such a decision is up to the trustees to make.

On March 7, 2012 the Toronto Catholic District School Board passed a motion by an overwhelming majority of Trustees in a vote of 8-2 making “Respecting Difference” clubs the anti-bullying solution for the board. The “Respecting Difference” document was drawn up by the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association and approved by the Archdiocese of Toronto as an anti-bullying program in line with Catholic teaching.

The motion concludes: “That the Toronto Catholic District School Board schools shall have no Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs or similar and that anti-bullying clubs and activities must adhere to the framework outlined in ‘Respecting Difference.’ And be it further resolved that the relevant section of the Board’s Equity and Inclusion (EIE) Policy shall be amended to reflect that “Respecting Difference” shall govern the operations of school anti-bullying clubs.”

Contact:

Contact Toronto District Catholic School Board Trustees here.