Thursday, October 3, 2024

Catholic school says it will remain ‘safe, respectful and inclusive’ in retort to archbishop’s controversial letter

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A catholic primary school has condemned a letter sent earlier this month by the archbishop of Hobart, in which he railed against the “radicalised transgender lobby”, same-sex marriage and the “woke movement”.

The letter from Archbishop Julian Porteous, dated May 2, was widely distributed among Tasmania’s Catholic schools. Politicians and LGBTQIA+ advocates criticised it at the time as being transphobic, homophobic and draconian.

On Wednesday, in a message to school parents, the advisory board of St Cuthbert’s Catholic School, on Hobart’s eastern shore, said it had sent a letter in response to the archbishop.

The school also told parents it was “committed to developing an inclusive and accepting culture that is in harmony with the Catholic tradition”.

“The board felt it important to note that, as a school, St Cuthbert’s meets students and members of our diverse school community both where they are at and as they are in their life journey, without judgement,” the statement read. 

“As a board, we are confident St Cuthbert’s will continue to foster a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for our students and school community.”

St Cuthbert’s Catholic school said it will “continue to foster a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for our students and school community.” (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)

The Independent Education Union applauded the school for pushing back against the archbishop. 

“Taking a stand like this on behalf of students, staff and the whole community is in the best tradition of Catholic social justice,” the union’s general secretary, David Brear, said.

The Archdiocese of Hobart declined to comment on the school’s response.

By Wednesday evening, the school’s message to parents, via an internal communication app, had been deleted.

School’s now-deleted message to parents

Advisory Board Response to Archbishop’s Pastoral Letter

Dear Families,

Earlier this week, the St Cuthbert’s Catholic School Advisory Board wrote to the Archbishop in response to the ‘We are Salt of the Earth’ Pastoral Letter circulated on 13 May 2024.

In particular, the Board noted that St Cuthbert’s is committed to developing an inclusive and accepting culture that is in harmony with the Catholic tradition. The Board felt it important to note that, as a school, St Cuthbert’s meets students and members of our diverse school community both where they are at and as they are in their life journey, without judgement.

As a Board, we are confident St Cuthbert’s will continue to foster a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for our students and school community.

Warm regards

St Cuthbert’s Catholic School Advisory Board

What was in the Archbishop’s letter

Archbishop Porteous, in his pastoral letter titled ‘We are Salt of the Earth’, tackled a long list of groups and issues. 

Among those included in the letter’s crosshairs were the “radicalised transgender lobby” groups, legal abortion access, voluntary assisted dying and euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and the “woke” movement.

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