Each and every day, I feel that the Mayans did predict the end of the world back in December 2012. It was not a physical end, but an end to rules, logic, sanity, and reason. Since the end, we continue to deteriorate and live in this world of make-believe and new science. I am all for it, for the most part.
Recently in our community there has been an organization mobilizing against St. Thomas More High School called “We Demand More”. Their cause is to open up the doors of inclusivity to queer students attending the Catholic high school. The folks who started this group are queer alumni and their allies.
The idea is good. Gay people are people too, and the Church calls for us to love everyone as we love ourselves. But then the group also goes too far and tries to challenge not only religious teaching but also common decent behavior. In their own tribute to Martin Luther, they went and taped some demands to the front doors of STM. The demands listed are to revisit policies in line with Church teaching, and to also allow freedom of name, pronoun, dress, and facilities for kids who find themselves confused about where they belong.
This group seems like they could be well organized and make changes in the Lafayette community—if they did it correctly. In their current capacity, they are acting without regard to rules, logic, sanity, or reason.
First of all, rules such as clothing choices and freedom of facilities are not good or appropriate for children at an expensive school. Consider the nature of the school: it’s an expensive private school and a part of the Catholic church. A school like STM would surely be interested in keeping the image (at least) of propriety in well dressed, well behaved students. Such would extend into facilities. Opening up to the students feeling that day or even creating new facilities for those in-betweeners would open up the door for misuse or no use.
Logically speaking, the current relevant school policies would generally come from the Diocese. The Diocese takes their ultimate directives from the teachings of the Catholic Church. Instead of acknowledging the history and structure of the 2,000 year old institution, this group is protesting against one branch of a bigger branch of an even bigger tree. There are better fights to be had, or be better planned, or with a different message. The actions from this group do not fall into any of these.
In general, it appears that folks who are a part of this organization generally are not practicing Catholics any more (if they even were in high school). If you dislike the faith because of events from the past, why recommend change to it? Why not advocate for people to just not attend the school? Public schools are relatively inexpensive and are inclusive by federal standards. When I have multiple bad experiences at a restaurant (especially if it’s an expensive restaurant), I don’t ask them to change. I recommend people stay away from that restaurant. It would be insane for me to spend four miserable years in one place and then turn around and say it has room for improvement.
Having never attended STM, I can not say how bad it truly is for the gay kids that attend school there, as few as they are. There are absolutely people in positions of authority that do not follow Catholic teaching to the T or interpret certain teachings incorrectly. Some of these stories surely have a basis in truth. I am not trying to convey that these stories are malevolent fabrications in any way. But with all that being said, the teachings of the Church are very plain, and Catholic institutions are charged with following those teachings as best as possible. Alumni who are not practicing Catholics and were miserable at STM should not waste time recommending change. In my eyes, it’s like fighting a local mosques or synagogues to allow their worshippers to eat bacon. It’s a waste of energy and the wrong way to bring about that change.
We all deserve to be loved appropriately reflecting that we all have a dignity of human life. That dignity of our life does not entitle us to ignore reasonable rules set by institutions in our lives. You cannot reasonably argue for bathrooms and locker rooms to be opened up for a select few every where you go. You cannot expect a private school to bend over to letting students wear whatever uniforms they want. You should demand less, and focus your energy into changing the community in a meaningful way.
Sources:
Bayou Observant 