It is a first principle of Catholic moral theology that the sins of the fathers are not visited upon their sons. Perhaps, it was with an eye to gender specificity that the Archdiocese of Denver decided to boot a pre-schooler – yes, a pre-schooler – out of one of their schools because the child’s parents are lesbians. It is only the sins of the mothers that are visited upon children.
In explaining its decision, the Archdiocese of Denver posted a note on their website that states, in part: “Parents living in open discord with Catholic teaching in areas of faith and morals unfortunately choose by their actions to disqualify their children from enrollment. To allow children in these circumstances to continue in our school would be a cause of confusion for the student in that what they are being taught in school conflicts with what they experience in the home.”
I am hoping that the chancery in Denver has been busy making sure that none of the investment bankers that ruined our nation’s economy have children in their schools. Or that the children of divorced and remarried parents have been excluded. And, what of the inner-city children of Protestant parents? Are there not a host of issues on which such parents live in “open discord” from the teachings of the Catholic faith?
Something is rotten in Denver. The lack of charity, and of moral perspective, astounds.
