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Since the March vote however, the union has faced calls to withdraw from the international march from some school board trustees, parents, members of Catholic organizations such as the Knights of Columbus and criticism from Ontario bishops.

Mr. Ryan was summoned to a meeting with Toronto Cardinal and Archbishop Thomas Collins and St. Catharines’ Bishop Gerard Paul Bergie in late March where they voiced their concerns about the union’s plans.

In a statement released after that meeting, Cardinal Collins said the union had gone beyond its scope as a collective bargaining agent and as a result had made a wrong decision.

“This decision shows that they and the OECTA leadership have an inadequate and mistaken understanding of their faith,” wrote the cardinal, who is also president of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario and whose statement was distributed to Ontario bishops.

“Cardinal Collins expressed the sentiments of all the bishops of Ontario indicating that we didn’t think it was proper for the Catholic [teachers’] union to participate in the pride parade,” said Thunder Bay’s Bishop Fred Colli on Friday. He added that OECTA’s participation “causes confusion,” among Catholics about what the union’s presence means.

While Cardinal Collins said Friday he supports and encourages compassion and understanding for gay people “in harmony with the gospel,” participating in the pride parade, where there have been displays of nudity and distribution of condoms, is not the “appropriate” way to do that.