Diocese banning visit from gay author and sacking governors that approved it

[gymgymgo]

The Archdiocese of Southwark over-ruled one of its own headteachers and is sacking some governors because they approved the visit of a children's author who writes books about fictional gay characters. They've said the visit is "outside the scope of what is permissible in a Catholic school". The school's chaplain has said "the event is about promoting the literature of a lifestyle choice that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ." Some of the teachers are now threatening strike action. Aibu to think this story will blow up in the diocese's face?

inews.co.uk/news/catholic-state-school-john-fisher-southwark-diocese-governors-cancel-visit-gay-author-simon-james-green-1505735

This ‘promoting’.

What do people imagine was going to happen?

Gay author who writes books which includes gay characters comes into school and starts explaining fisting and how to make a good Grindr profile? Then a singalong to ‘sing if you’re glad to be gay…’ Finishing with a rousing group cheer of ‘we’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going shopping!’

Or, writer of popular books which include subtle references to characters being gay, coming into school to talk about being a writer, how to write, the (literary) life of a writer, and answering questions about the characters, including, probably, calm factual questions like ‘is xyz in your novel gay?’

@HomeHomeInTheRange

This ‘promoting’.

What do people imagine was going to happen?

Gay author who writes books which includes gay characters comes into school and starts explaining fisting and how to make a good Grindr profile? Then a singalong to ‘sing if you’re glad to be gay…’ Finishing with a rousing group cheer of ‘we’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going shopping!’

Or, writer of popular books which include subtle references to characters being gay, coming into school to talk about being a writer, how to write, the (literary) life of a writer, and answering questions about the characters, including, probably, calm factual questions like ‘is xyz in your novel gay?’

Straight male authors are the real danger, after reading one of their books that promoted the dangerous straight agenda, I had an urge to wear badly fitting supermarket jeans, an aversion to personal hygiene and a sudden need to wolf whistle children walking home from school.

aspargusaubergine Where on earth is your school? Can’t think of anybody with such a mindset at ours..Why shouldn’t gay kids like my son grow up with gay characters in books and be able to feel normal? Many kids will have gay parents, siblings, family. It’s normal life and books should reflect that. Age appropriate books contain straight characters that don’t promote sex. Pretty sure books containing gay characters can do the same.

The parents have started a petition to have the sacked governors reinstated. Do sign if you feel strongly about this:

chng.it/sfH8PBZVhs

Signed, thanks.

JFS is a very high performing school.

Clearly the school leadership tryst their young people to keep an open mind, encounter a range of people and experiences and come to their own conclusions.

It’s utterly ridiculous and an insult to the students that the diocese wish to censor and control their access to ordinary, legal, fictional material.

And are flouting legal processes to do so!

Of all the times to set an example of dictatorial behaviour and control of information!!!!

For those who have criticised the Catholic Church, it seems that the diocese do not have the backing of the Catholic Education Service. I am not sure what their relationship is to the church but they are ‘an agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference’ so must be able to speak on behalf of high ranking church hierarchy.

The Catholic Education Service stated: 'Catholic schools welcome pupils from all backgrounds. This isolated incident has given a false impression of the inclusive nature of Catholic schools.

'Catholic schools are places where all children can flourish and as such have a zero-tolerance approach to LGBT+ discrimination. Nationally the CES has worked closely with schools, dioceses, and charities to produce Catholic inclusivity guidance and resources for schools that have won acclaim from LGBT+ organisations. We would encourage Catholic schools to work closely with their diocese to ensure that all Catholic schools can be welcoming and inclusive centres of learning where everyone is respected as a human being made in the image and likeness of God.'.

Pretty clear refusal to back the diocese.

Hopefully the diocese will reverse their decision then.

@Viviennemary

If a book happens to have a gay character or a trans character that's fine. But why make a thing of it by inviting these authors or actors in to particularly promote this. There is no reason whatsoever for this.

But then there's no reason whatsoever why any school should "promote" any author. This isn't a matter of promotion, it's a matter of education. If you are going to invite authors in to discuss their work, surely you shouldn't discriminate in terms of who you invite?

Probably should have read the full thread BUT....the parents and governing body supported the visit. The campaign against it seems to have been started by a woman in Scotland (!) supported by loads of home schoolers in US and the Chaplin of the school.
The school was overruled. The parents support the head and governors.
These are worrying times but the rage needs to be directed in the right place.

According to the Catholic Truth (sic) blog the Chaplain has resigned.

Excellent! Sounds like the Chaplain will be no loss. He sounds a bit batshit with his claims that he is "standing up against tyranny". If he really believes that inviting a gay author in for a discussion is tyranny, it is pretty offensive to the victims of real tyranny.

The campaign against (the visit) seems to have been started by a woman in Scotland (!) supported by loads of home schoolers in US and the Chaplin of the school

I thought it was supposed to be the diocese who objected, but now it's the school's chaplain? Or does he count as "the diocese? (I don't subscribe to this kind of thing so am not sure)

Anyway I'm not sure how a petition will help; with this kind of mindset they'll probably regard it as "a gathering of the forces of evil which it's their calling to confront", and they may even enjoy it

@HomeHomeInTheRange

According to the Catholic Truth (sic) blog the Chaplain has resigned.

That blog is fucking nuts.

I thought it was supposed to be the diocese who objected, but now it's the school's chaplain?
The diocese would be very unlikely to have any involvement or knowledge of an author visit. It's been clear from the start of this (and in the article linked by the OP) that the chaplain was the one who had contacted the diocese and asked them to intervene.

Thanks, Dahlietta - only in defence of the school it keeps being suggested that this was all the diocese's doing, and now it seems it's more nuanced than that (although presumably the diocese didn't have to back the chaplain)

I had to smile at the "Catholic Truth" title though; from an organisation that works so hard to hide exactly that, it's perhaps a little ironic

Yes, the Diocese could have taken a different decision for sure. I would guess there were also some parents involved, but that they probably went to the chaplain rather than the Diocese direct.

@Puzzledandpissedoff the head and governors were all in favour and indeed booked the visit. The School is in favour. The Chaplain will have been appointed by the diocese rather than the school I believe.

@Dahlietta - the complaints sent to the diocese came from a woman in Scotland and a load of American home schoolers.

@GrammarTeacher, I saw that referenced upthread, but I haven't seen that reported anywhere. Is that from the Catholic Truth blog?

It's from the author's Twitter feed and the original reports on the matter.

The Chaplain will have been appointed by the diocese rather than the school I believe

Ah, I see; that makes sense, though if the diocese backed the banning and appointed him I'm surprised he's resigned

Perhaps none of them want the hassle and would rather the school/parents had just bent the knee to their ... err ... judgement (?)

@LatteLady

OK, a couple of things, The Church can only remove he governors it has appointed, ie the Foundation Governors, it cannot remove the parent govs or staff govs as they are elected, nor may it remove the LA or Co-opted governors.

I fear that the issue here is not the writer per se, but a means to remove part of the governing body because the various dioceses are being encouraged strongly to form academies chains and this is not sitting well with parents.

There is nothing in the article about sacking the HT, because that is quite a difficult thing to achieve, possibly gross misconduct by bringing the school into disrepute... but frankly it would seem that the priest, who will doubtless be on the GB will be the person on whose doorstep that should be laid. If they tried to sack the HT, a combination of the NAHT and the NEU would, I suggest be more than able for any fire and brimstone the Diocese invokes.

Academy trusts under any faith remove democratic right. No LA governors, all trust controlled. The trust appoint to the board so can strengthen their religious character. There is such pressure on schools and their governors, from diocesan leaders, to convert to an academy. Some schools are resigned to it, but democratic oversight is lost.

The academy system is such a huge issue in changing education in this country, yet everyone seems to accept. Parents should stand up against it, but don't.

inews.co.uk/news/john-fisher-school-teachers-strike-gay-author-banned-governors-sacked-154604

Looks like the teachers might strike. Good luck to them I say.

Ofsted criticises archdiocese over ban on gay author’s visit to Catholic school