Editor:
Regarding the March 19 article, “Archbishop Defends School’s Decision On Children Of Lesbians,” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput needs to read the Bible and ask himself, “What would Jesus do?”
The article states that the archdiocesan policy on school admissions reads in part, “Parents living in open discord with Catholic teaching in areas of faith and morals unfortunately choose by their actions to disqualify their children from enrollment.”
If you want people to come into the faith you can’t deny them the opportunity of coming to your church. Do you send out a questionnaire to your congregation asking people who come to church if they are divorced, couples living together without marriage, lesbians, gays, alcoholics, drug users, couples who have sexual intimacy outside of marriage, etc.? These are all openly in discord with Catholic teaching in areas of faith and morals. Shouldn’t you also stop the parents from coming to church? Why do you accept students whose parents aren’t married, divorced, etc. but not these children?
Jesus loved everyone, especially the children, and even ate with sinners. Can we do anything less? We are to love everyone, even if we don’t like what they do or how they live.
You are discriminating against only one group of people even though your religion condemns divorce, etc. Do you really think you are bringing them into the faith by telling them they can’t come to your school?
You are condemning the innocent children who have done nothing wrong for the sins of their parents. That isn’t right! How are the children to learn the Catholic teachings, faith, morality and social values if you keep them out of your schools? In Matthew, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
I’m glad my church includes all people so they can hear the Gospel. That’s what Jesus tells us to do.
Joan Walsh
Voorhees