Media Advisory: Humanists Condemn Catholic School Use of Students as Pro-Life Lobbyists
April 24, 2012
MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Humanists Condemn Catholic School Use of Students as Pro-Life Lobbyists
TORONTO, ONTARIO—(April 19, 2012) - Teachers at St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga have been encouraging students to sign a petition to reopen the abortion debate in Canada.
The petition supports Kitchener Centre MP Stephen Woodworth’s Bill in the House of Commons to “study whether human life begins before birth” and follows a long string of pro-life materials which are handed to students to support a religiously-based political agenda.
“Having students learn about their faith is one thing, coercing them into supporting a Bill in the House of Commons is another,” said Michael Payton, National Executive Director of Centre for Inquiry Canada. “This is a clear example of indoctrination and pernicious lobbying that is being funded by taxpayers in Ontario.”
This issue comes on the heels of waves of criticism against the Catholic School Boards for refusing to allow Gay-Straight Alliances to prevent bullying of teens. Payton added “at one point they banned rainbows from Schools because they were too political, now they use their students to support anti-choice legislation.”
The Centre for Inquiry supports the removal of public funding from Catholic Boards. “It’s time to stand up for basic equality. Catholic schools have banned banned gay student societies, removed lesbian teachers, attempted to prevent a gay couple from attending prom, suspended a student for advocating pro-choice, banned books they deemed atheistic, and now are turning their students into lobbyists - all at taxpayer expense,” said Payton.
Contact
Justin Trottier
National Communications Director
jtrottier@cficanada.ca
416-402-8856
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