Letter: Saskatoon Catholic school division's actions not malicious (2024)

I’m responding to the StarPhoenix article about Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools advising children to avoid the Rainbow Tent at the Nutrien Children’s Festival of Saskatchewan.

Much ink has been spilled over the words of Tom Hickey and Francois Rivard over the last few days, but relatively little has been in a spirit of charity. To say that Mr. Hickey’s words were “bullying” or “promoting hate” is simply false, and I suspect is intentionally attributing malice for the purpose of generating outrage.

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Like Mr. Rivard said, there is an expectation from parents that by sending their children to a Catholic school they would in turn receive a Catholic education. A tent that promotes “Drag Queen Storytime” is not in line with Catholic teaching, nor is it merely about colour and fun and rainbows, no matter what the innocent description of the Rainbow Tent states.

Catholics are bound to promote for our children the authentic acceptance of oneself, as they are created. As Pope Francis stated: “the young need to be helped to accept their own body as it was created, for ‘thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over Creation.’ ” (Amoris Laetitia 285).

To present the idea that one should repudiate one’s body, as if it were immaterial to one’s identity, is reminiscent of the early heresy, Gnosticism. Our children can be accepted, loved and affirmed just as they are, body and soul. I applaud Tom Hickey and the GSCS for upholding that doctrine.

Michael Raney, Clavet

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