Ontario Catholic teachers (OECTA) reject Catholic document. The following letter appeared in the Toronto Star letters page:

Re: Dodging the gay issue, Editorial Feb. 1

             “Respecting Differences” is a document produced by the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, which represents the officials elected to sit on Catholic school boards in Ontario. The document is not reflective of any views or input from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), which represents the 45,000 elementary and secondary teachers who work in Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools.

            OECTA has stated its support for gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and other student-led anti-homophobia groups. OECTA teacher members are in schools every day working with students championing efforts to make our schools more respectful and welcoming places for everyone. They are supporting students, including LGBT students, who are struggling with the consequences of schools that are not safe and accepting.

            Our faith teaches us to treat everyone equitably and with dignity. We teach students to embrace and promote our common humanity.

Our mandate as teachers includes promoting active citizenship. We encourage students to exercise leadership and take initiative in solving problems such as bullying and homophobia. Empowering students to deal with issues with their peers is essential if we are to make any progress in eradicating bullying and all forms of discrimination in our schools.

            It is not enough to tell students “it gets better” someday — when their reality is today. That starts now with Bill 13, The Accepting Schools Act.

Kevin O’Dwyer, President, Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association

Note: Catholic Insight asks all teachers to vote on the survey posted on OECTA’s website and to see this survey is properly supervised.