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A Catholic Understanding of Sexuality

A Catholic Understanding of Sexuality. Presented by: Sr. Jane Meyer, O.P. St. Agnes Academy Cheri Broadhead Totino-Grace High School. Gospel demands that we affirm the dignity and respond to the needs of all God’s people. Areas of Concern. Public display of affection

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A Catholic Understanding of Sexuality

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  1. A Catholic Understanding of Sexuality Presented by: Sr. Jane Meyer, O.P. St. Agnes Academy Cheri Broadhead Totino-Grace High School

  2. Gospel demands that we affirm thedignity and respond to the needs ofall God’s people.

  3. Areas of Concern • Public display of affection • Students identifying themselves openly as lesbians • Potential of other non-lesbian students being drawn into the lesbian lifestyle • The potential problem of the lesbian issue having a negative impact on the school

  4. SAA Policies/Catholic Teaching • Respect all people. • It’s okay to disclose homosexual orientation in an appropriate manner. Seek guidance first.

  5. It’s okay to claim symbols related to homosexual orientation because the orientation is not sinful. • It’s not okay to use symbols or slogans to promote immoral behavior or to act contrary to Church teaching.

  6. “From the first moment that a student sets foot in a Catholic school, he or she ought to have the impression of entering a new environment, one illuminated by the light of faith, having its own unique characteristics.” Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education

  7. The Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education instructs those working in Catholic education that they must welcome gay and lesbian students (1982)

  8. “Educationally, homosexuality cannot and ought not to be skirted or ignored. The topic must be faced in all objectivity by the pupil and the educator when the case presents itself.” Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, 1983

  9. Catholic High Schools • Do our Catholic Schools present the whole message of the Church regarding the dignity and worth of gay and lesbian people? • Do they present any message at all, or are they silent on the topic?

  10. STATISTICS • 80% of gay/lesbian/bisexual youth report verbal abuse almost daily • 44% report threats of attack • 17% have been assaulted • 97% of the time, teachers do not correct anti-gay slurs • 30% of all successful suicides

  11. MATTHEW SHEPARD What is it in our society that perpetuates the attitudes that makes this violence okay? Do you believe that the young men who committed this crime could have viewed Matthew Shepard as a fellow human being?

  12. Two women, girlfriends of the perpetrators, stood and watched. Have you ever stood by and watched someone be harassed or insulted or hurt? Why didn’t they get involved?

  13. FACULTY/STAFF IN-SERVICE • Church’s teaching on homosexuality • How homosexuals come to know and deal with their orientation • Resources available to help homosexual students • Resources available to help all people understand the issue

  14. The culture of the school greatly affects how gay and lesbian students integrate with the school.

  15. Diversity Week • Video: A Place at the Table (Southern Poverty Law Center) • Breakout Sessions…choice of 2 • Multicultural Entertainment • Prayer and commissioning

  16. Sexuality… is about who you are. Sexual Activity… is about what you CHOOSE to do.

  17. SEXUAL ORIENTATION • Not chosen…discovered. • Refers to one’s predominant emotional and sexual attraction • 3 kinds: • Heterosexual…to opposite gender • Homosexual…to same gender • Bisexual…to both

  18. SEXUAL ORIENTATION . . . • Not fundamentally or primarily a tendency toward acts • Psychosexual attraction toward particular persons • A dimension of one’s personality

  19. Heterosexual Homosexual

  20. HOMOSEXUAL • A person who sustains a PREDOMINANT, PERSISTENT, psychosexual, physical, and emotional attraction to the same sex.

  21. STEREOTYPES • Homosexual persons are attracted to ALL same-sex persons. • Homosexual persons are sexually promiscuous or pedophiles.

  22. SEXUAL INTEGRATION =Integrating sexuality into the totality of who weare Friendships and relationships are important.

  23. CHASTITY • = the virtue of living out one’s sexuality according to God’s will • is lived out differently according to vocational lifestyle and sexual orientation • all are called to be chaste

  24. Wear your flak jacket! • Your convictions • Your love of kids • Church Teaching • The support of your team • The strength of God and the angels!

  25. Ways to Address Sexual Orientation in the Classroom • Break the silence! Don’t be afraid to use the words gay, lesbian, and bisexual. • Assume that 4 – 10% of your students are gay/lesbian – 1 to 3 in a class of 30. • Challenge put-downs and homophobia. • Be prepared for the teachable moments. • Draw on current events.

  26. Ways to Address Orientation in the Classroom . . . • Acknowledge the gay, lesbian, and bisexual people whom the students already know.

  27. SPORTS • Martina Navratilova • Greg Louganis

  28. PERFORMERS • Elton John • Melissa Etheridge • Ellen DeGeneres

  29. AUTHORS • Walt Whitman • James Baldwin • Langston Hughes • Be conscious of the sexual orientation of characters in your classroom literature.

  30. Totino-Grace High School Another Journey

  31. The things we have learned . . .

  32. Know the Church Teachings • Always Our Children US Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and Family, 1997, 1998 • Sharing Catholic Social Teaching USCCB, 1998 • Catechism of the Catholic Church

  33. “The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. We believe that every person is precious . . . And that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.” USCCB, 1999

  34. THEME FOR THE YEAR • “See the Face of God” Which faces remain invisible in your school?

  35. “The teaching of the Church makes it clear that the fundamental human rights of homosexual persons must be defended and that all of us must strive to eliminate any form of injustice, oppression, or violence against them.” Always our Children, USCCB

  36. “It is not sufficient only to avoid unjust discrimination. Homosexual persons ‘must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity.’” Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2358 Always our Children, USCCB

  37. Students and parents are counting on us to do something to protect all children in our schools. Are all students safe in your school?

  38. The things we have learned . . .

  39. KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY AND ITS NEEDS

  40. LEADERSHIP CAME FROM THE TOP • President’s meeting • Faculty Inservice on the topic of Pastoral Care for Homosexual students • Formal training for faculty and staff

  41. ANCHOR STAFF “The Anchor Staff includes members of the Totino-Grace faculty and staff who are here to listen to students with issues related to sexual identity. This includes students who are gay or lesbian, and reaches out to their friends and family as well.”

  42. ANCHOR SYMBOL One of the earliest of Christian symbols that means stability . . . As in fishermen who would drop the anchor in a storm to keep the boats steady. We, hopefully, offer stability to those we serve. Our ultimate anchor is Christ.

  43. A Mosaic of Faith: A Celebration of Catholic Schools Week • Recognition and blessing of people involved in outreach ministry • Student Support Services • Student of Color Group • Peer Counselors • Anchor Staff

  44. “Look upon our brothers and sisters who give of their time and talents to be available to our Totino-Grace community. May your Holy Spirit descend upon these men and women and give them good judgment, wisdom, compassion and understanding. May you, O God, hold them and all of us in the palm of Your hand and keep us close to You as we struggle and journey through life. Amen.”

  45. Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities Training Manuel Building Safe Schools: A Catholic Perspective 1. Laying the Foundation: A Faculty Inservice 2. Defining Safe Staff

  46. 3. The GLBT Reality and the Catholic Church 4. Coming Out 5. The Classroom Setting and Beyond

  47. GLBT students need allies and count on them to address harassment at school.

  48. RESPONDING TO HARASSMENTDo’s and Don’t • Do deal with a situation immediately • Don’t ignore it, let it pass, or let your fears block your ability to act • Do confirm that the behavior is hurtful and will not be tolerated • Do value the feelings of others by active, sensitive listening

  49. Do’s and Don’ts • Do take steps to support the victim and enable him/her to develop a stronger sense of self • Do take those involved aside to discuss the topic • Do apply consequences to the abuser in accordance with the school rules

  50. Do’s and Don’ts • Don’t overreact with another put-down of the offender • Don’t focus entirely on applying consequences while ignoring the feelings of the victim • Don’t assume that the incident is an isolated occurrence divorced from the overall context in which it occurred

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