San Francisco archbishop defends strict teacher morality code
SAN FRANCISCO - The archbishop of San Francisco sent a letter to California lawmakers on Thursday asking them to respect his right to hire people who uphold Catholic teachings.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone wrote the message in response to a letter sent to him earlier this week by California lawmakers urging him to remove from a teachers' handbook morality clauses they say are discriminatory and divisive.
"Would you hire a campaign manager who advocates policies contrary to those you stand for, and who shows disrespect for you and the Democratic Party in general?" Cordileone asked the lawmakers in the letter.
The morality code for teachers has sparked controversy at area Catholic schools, leading to a student-led prayer protest Wednesday, comes as the San Francisco Archdiocese faces criticism on other issues.
CBS News reported Thursday that the Archdiocese faces a rebellion on a different matter at Star of the Sea School, a Catholic elementary school in San Francisco. Parents and students reacted negatively to a morality pamphlet given to young students by the parish.
Called an "Examination of Conscience," the handout was meant to prepare them to confess their sins, with questions like "Did I participate or approve of a mercy killing?" and "Did I perform impure acts by myself (masturbation) or with another (adultery, fornication or sodomy)?"
"This is not content that's appropriate for anybody in the K-through-8th-grade realm," said Christy Brooks, whose 11-year-old son came home one day quoting the pamphlet.
Star of the Sea parish pastor Father Joseph Illo said distribution of the pamphlet has been halted in December and suggested the issue had reemerged because of concerns related to the current morality code controversy.
On Tuesday, Democratic Assemblymen Phil Ting of San Francisco and Kevin Mullin of San Mateo made public a letter to Archbishop Cordileone about the morality code, written by them and signed by every lawmaker representing the communities served by the four Catholic high schools in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties.
Cordileone adds he respects the lawmakers' right to hire whoever may advance their mission and that he is asking for the same respect.
Cordileone earlier this month presented teachers with a statement that says Catholic school employees are expected to conduct their public lives in a way that doesn't undermine or deny the church's doctrine.