The Coptic Orthodox Churches in Toronto are threatening to withdraw
4,000 families from the Toronto Catholic District School Board if it
does not amend its controversial equity policy to protect Catholic
teaching in the schools.
According to one expert in Ontario education,
if the threat were carried out, the board could lose upwards of
$40,000,000 in annual public funding, and over 150 teachers.
If the board implements its policy, wrote Fr. Jeremiah Attaalla on
June 22nd, “we will not hesitate to withdraw our children at once from
attending any Catholic school within Toronto or [the Greater Toronto
Area].”
The equity policy, passed earlier this year as part of the Ontario
government’s sweeping equity and inclusive education strategy, has
sparked an unprecedented mobilization of parents who fear that it will
give homosexual activists a foothold in order to further subvert already
weak Catholic sexual teaching in the schools.
In August the board will be considering a set of amendments to the
policy promoted by trustee John Del Grande and Angela Kennedy to ensure
that equity and inclusion are interpreted consistently with Catholic
teaching.
Fr. Attaalla wrote in his letter, which was addressed to Director of
Education Ann Perron, that they will withdraw their children “if the
requested amendments are not implemented.”
He said the amendments are
“faithful to the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”
The priest explained that he was writing on behalf of the parishes of
St. Mark (Scarborough), St. George and St. Ruiess (North York), St.
Mourice and St. Verena (North York), and Ti Agia Maria and St. Demiana
(Etobicoke).
He said these parishes have a population of at least 5,000 families,
not one of which support the public schools because of their
implementation of the government’s controversial equity agenda.
He said
at least 80% of those families attend the Catholic schools and the rest
attend private schools.
The school board reportedly receives about $10,000 in public funding
for every child and it requires approximately 19 children to support one
teacher.
See a copy of the official Coptic statement here.