Mike Davis

@byMikeDavis

JACKSON - A 13-year-old boy alleges that he was kicked out of Catholic education classes "because of who I love."

Peter Lanza Jr., was told by his catechism teacher at St. Aloysius Parish that he was "not allowed to be here anymore." Lanza, 13, is openly gay, according to a Chasing New Jersey report on the controversy.

"I feel very upset, very frustrated, also very confused as to why I have been kicked out of CCD," Lanza said. When asked why he believes he was asked to leave, the youth said it's "because of who I love."

The church on Thursday flatly denied Lanza's claims but declined to explain why Lanza was "transferred" to home catechism study.

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"No student has been dismissed from our program for any reason this year, or at any time during the current pastoral administration," the church said in a statement. "There are times when any number of circumstances might warrant that a student should change from in-class instruction to home study ... ranging from specific needs of the family to physical limitations of the student to disciplinary problems exhibited in class.

"However, no child has ever been required to change to home study due to sexual orientation. St. Aloysius Parish respects the dignity of all persons, without exception, and welcomes the opportunity to teach the faith to every Catholic who wishes to learn it," the church said.

About 400 students, 20 percent of the overall catechism student body, are on home study, the church said.

But the boy's father, Peter Lanza Sr., said the Rev. John Bambrick has not offered any explanation as to why his son was placed on home study, according to Chasing New Jersey.

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"Emails didn't do it. Phone calls didn't do it. Going to visit the rectory didn't do it," he said. "Father Bambrick did not reach out, did not give an explanation. This father's not a father. I'm a father. He's just a priest hiding behind the robe."

The Catholic church still considers homosexual acts a sin, but not homosexual orientation, Pope Francis said last year. Compared with his predecessors, Francis has been historically liberal on the issue.

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"They must not be discriminated against, that they must be respected and accompanied pastorally," the pope said of gay people last year. "The church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it offended, but it must also apologize to the poor as well, to the women who have been exploited, to children who have been exploited by work. It must apologize for having blessed so many weapons."

In 2013, Pope Francis famously said: "If someone is gay and searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?"

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com