I Stand With Marian High In Being Faithful to Its Catholic Beliefs and Mission

I Stand With Marian High In Being Faithful to Its Catholic Beliefs and Mission (Please sign now, if you already agree, or whenever ready!) A controversy began at Marian Catholic Girls’ High School, Bloomfield Michigan, when an unmarried science teacher, who also coached volley ball and softball, announced recently to the nuns in administration that she is pregnant. “Miss Webb” had revealed that she was practicing homosexuality with a lesbian partner when interviewing nine years ago. Presumably trying to be “inclusive”, and accepting to "diversity", the sisters hired her under the condition that she keep her private life private, since as she was aware, her lifestyle is against the moral teaching of the Church. She agreed to this “morality clause” when she signed their contract. Many believe the school made a mistake in hiring her, since the Catholic Church declares practicing homosexuality is a grave sin. However, not only did she fail to keep her private life private, but she also used artificial insemination to achieve pregnancy. The Catholic Church teaches that artificial insemination is also a grave sin. The nuns responded by deciding not to renew her contract. Miss Webb has chosen to make an issue of it and gone public on the internet collecting over 70,000 signatures of supporters, claiming it is her right, as a woman, to have a baby, despite her contractual agreement. At the same time, she attempts to gain sympathy to force Marian High, and ultimately the Church, to change Catholic teaching and not only normalize homosexuality, but to promote it. While most people feel sympathy for Miss Webb’s loss of job, expecting a baby; the truth is she disqualified herself by her actions directly opposed to Catholic morals and should not fault the school. When they decided she was no longer suitable to teach on staff, the school’s administration was only remaining faithful to its proclaimed Catholic mission and responsibility to the parents and students. Parents entrust their young teen age children to the Catholic school for Catholic formation, rightfully expecting that the school would teach and model Catholic morals. Retaining her on their staff would undermine all of their teaching on morals. “Miss Webbs” public life would not only send a message to students that Marian approves of her lifestyle, it would be in effect saying Catholic faith and morals taught at Marian are only “book learning”, but in reality, need not be taken seriously. Marian’s decision to protect their young girls from the influence of the lifestyle of this young teacher, who obviously does not agree with Catholic moral teaching, and who has brought and would continue to bring scandal to the school for many years in the future, was the right thing to do. In attempt to force Marian High and the Church to change Catholic morals, The LGBT effort and Barb Webb initiated an internet petition on change.org, whose stated mission, according to Wickipedia is to "empower people everywhere to create the change they want to see”. The title of the petition is STAND WITH BARB WEBB! WE DEMAND THAT MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL RETHINKS ITS POLICIES AND SUPPORT LGBT STAFF AND STUDENTS. As mentioned, they have collected over 70,000 signatures. This is tantamount to bullying, designed to make the public and nuns believe all the signers are local, which they are not! The vast majority of those signing could well be themselves practicing homosexuals from all over the country, seeking the advancement of the homosexual cause: moral normalization for their lifestyle, with equal social status and monetary benefits enjoyed by heterosexual persons. This is evidenced by the fact that the person filing the petition, Verity Flecknell, lives in London, United Kingdom. Yet the letter implies that those who wrote and sign are Marian families. Many who have signed the poll in support of Miss Webb, no doubt are either non practicing Catholics, or not Catholics. Some agree with Ms. Webb because they don’t understand the details of the situation or Church teaching. Because they are such a sensitive issue, regrettably, homosexuality and artificial insemination has not been explained much in schools or from the pulpit. Many who sign are not thinking of the consequences for future students, who naturally emulate beloved teachers. See the following statements the LGBTs have issued to gain coercion power: Click on the links to see the full articles: http://www.change.org/p/marian-high-school-michigan-stand-with-barb-webb-we-demand-that-marian-high-school-rethinks-its-policies-and-support-lgbt-staff-and-students “We would like an official public apology to Barb Webb and all of the students and staff who have been shamed, ostracized, and made to feel 'less than' for how they simply want to express love in their life. See this quote, which appear to be longer, but is really only one sentence: “The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the order that sponsors Marian High School, issued a statement today written by their president, Mary Jane Herb, IHM, PH.D. to alumnae that states: ‘These are challenging times and times in which we feel that God's Spirit is working with us, encouraging us to respond to the signs of the times in new ways.’” Please sisters, don’t cave in! God’s will doesn’t change “in new ways” to suit society’s demands. See this link on this page: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/be-the-change-diversity-club writes the following: Title: WHO WE ARE (Note: This letter was misleadingly entitled to appear as if Marian families are writing it, however it was composed by the Be the Change Diversity Club. Such a club does not exist at Marian.): “We are Marian High School--a Catholic, college-preparatory school for young women sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We are students, families, faculty, and staff--past, present, and (hopefully) future. Later they explain: “Marian High School relies on student tuition and private donations for funding, and the administration undoubtedly knows that money talks. We seek to raise at least $50,000 to offer to Marian High School, provided that the funding goes toward: professional development in diversity and inclusivity for all staff and faculty as well as a student-focused diversity club that provides a safe space, a welcoming community, and a forum for dialogue. We will offer any funds that are raised by the end of this campaign, regardless of the amount.” For Those Who Would Like Further Information and Explanation: Robert Muise, lawyer from The American Freedom Law School Center says: “Legally, a Catholic school has a constitutional right to fire anyone who violates the ‘morality clause’ in their contract, which Ms. Webb had signed”. Even secular organizations have “morality clauses”. We recently witnessed, via an elevator video, the behavior of a NFL football player who was fired by his team for bashing his fiancée in the face and knocking her unconscious. We all agreed that was the right thing for the team to do, in order to send a message to the public that violent abuse of women by a football professional is not acceptable behavior. Many political figures have also been forced to step down from their positions for unethical behavior. “Miss” Webb knew It would be impossible to hide a child and the child’s other female parent, since Marian students live all over the greater Detroit area, Students would no doubt see her with her child and partner outside of class. Normal teen age gossip would spread the scandal throughout the school and beyond. Theologian College Professor Monica Miller, PhD agrees: “Marian would in effect be shirking its responsibilities to model good morals to back up its teachings to its young impressionable students, in matters that are serious and grave especially in this historical moment in which there is much confusion on love. The issue here is about Ms Webb’s moral behavior contrary to Church /Marian High teaching. Ms. Webb also deliberately denies the male sperm donor’s responsibilities as a father. Lawyer Robert Muise also said, “The religious order (The Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters) has a mission to inculcate Catholic values. The school has a right to decide what are the values their teachers are going to hold and the values their teachers are going to convey to their students” – “a Catholic school trying to teach Catholic values” “In this case, it (Ms Webb’s behavior) violated fundamental Catholic values. It created scandal.” The staff at Marian is responsible to be faithful to that mission to the parents who entrust their children to them, at great financial sacrifice for most. Nearby there are excellent public schools that are free. The only reason most parents send their children to Marian, and sacrifice about $48,000 now, is for their children’s spiritual growth through CATHOLIC formation. Parents have a right to expect that the atmosphere at the school, including the decorum of the entire staff, on campus and off, would model and witness for girls how to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church -- how to be Catholic. Parents have the right to expect that no one there, even privately, would display hypocritical or scandalous behavior opposed to Catholic doctrine.