Outrage: NY Catholic High School Invites Gay Couple To Prom

The President of a Catholic High School in New York doesn't want you to be confused. His urgent plea is that, whatever you do, please don't confuse his obsequious and duplicitous acceptance of out-and-proud homosexuality as an endorsement of out-and-proud homosexuality. And he uses Pope Francis as cover.

Father Edward Salmon, president of McQuaid Jesuit High School in Brighton N.Y., said that a homosexual couple will be allowed to attend the junior prom. He said that the homosexual couple "will be welcomed.” Remember, these are confused and troubled 16 or 17 year old kids. That is sickening enough, but it actually gets much worse.

The duplicitous Fr. Salmon kicks incredulity in the nethers with this piece of absurdity, insisting that that this in no way condones homosexuality or violates Church teaching. Then Fr. Salmon adds heaps of insult upon grievous injury by using the Pope to justify his indefensible position.

    With this decision I am not contradicting the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church with regard to human sexuality; I am not encouraging nor am I condoning homosexual activity just as I do not encourage or condone heterosexual activity at a dance. I am not contradicting the Church's opposition to the redefinition of marriage. With this decision I invite and encourage us all, as Pope Francis does, to exercise care, protection, goodness which calls for a certain tenderness "which is not a virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness."

Fr. Salmon, how are you offering care and protection of body and souls of these misguided young people? Your weakness and indefensible platitudes are encouraging these young men to gravely sin imperiling both body and soul.

Fr. Salmon's twisting of the Pope's words is absolutely disgusting. This duplicitous and traitorous doublespeak needs to end. I am not sure who the competent ecclesiastical authority is in this case, but Fr. Salmon must be immediately rebuked and censured in a very clear way. This rebuke needs to be swift and clear and the offer to the young men immediately rescinded. Allow them to attend, of course, but only as individuals loved by their God.

The worst part is that in doing this, Fr. Salmon has victimized the very young men he pretends to love.

Love and charity are not served by pushing people off the cliff and then wishing them a good journey.

[ht Paul Zummo]