 says it never sought concessions to discriminate against students or teachers because on the basis of sexuality){kind=link}
Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) says it never sought concessions to discriminate against students or teachers on the basis of sexuality and welcomes changes to anti-discrimination laws that remove any right religious schools have to expel students because of their sexual orientation or gender identification.
“The Church and her schools offer an outstretched hand to all students,” CSNSW Chief Executive Officer Dallas McInerney said today.
“Catholic schools are where they will find God’s grace and the acceptance of their brothers and sisters.”
His comments came after the recommendations of the report from the Federal Government’s review into religious freedom, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised to release along with the Government’s response by the end of this year, were leaked to the media late last week.
One of the 20 recommendations is that legislation allow for religious schools to “discriminate in relation to students on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status” provided that the discrimination is founded in the precepts of the religion, the school has a publicly available policy on the matter, and “has regard to the best interests of the child as the primary consideration”.
Mr McInerney said in a statement that “nothing in the Bible or in Catholic teaching can be used to justify prejudicial or discriminatory attitudes and behaviours”.
“The realisation of being attracted to the same sex can bring with it anxiety and issues related to self-acceptance,” he said.
“Sexual orientation is only one part of a student’s total personhood.
“The view of the student needs to be all encompassing. In this sense, we are guided by 1 Samuel 16:7 which teaches us: ‘The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’
Catholic Schools NSW represents the state’s 595 Catholic schools and their 255,000 students.
Mr McInerney reiterated that Catholic education had never sought the right to expel students or to dismiss or refuse to hire staff based on their sexuality.
“As Archbishop Mark Coleridge explained this week, Catholic schools welcome staff and students from all backgrounds who are willing to accept the declared mission and values of the school community. All people should be considered equally for employment or enrolment.
“We did not seek concessions to discriminate against students or teachers based on their sexuality, gender identity or relationship status.
“All that we expect is that – once employed or enrolled – people within a Catholic school community adhere to the school’s mission and values.
“This is the same expectation other values-based organisations have, such as political parties, trade unions and industry peak bodies.”