The Diocese of Manchester announced in late October that Camp Fatima, one of two sites administered by the diocese, would be expelling the Exceptional Citizens Week program, which offers “people ages 9 and older with intellectual or physical challenges a week of traditional camp activities such as horseback riding, swimming, boating, arts and crafts, and more at no cost to the camper.” WMUR 9 reported:
“In a statement, Bishop Peter Libasci of Manchester said all programs at Camp Fatima and its sister facility, Camp Bernadette, must ‘create a strong and healthy Catholic culture, remain faithful to Church teaching and, very importantly, reinforce the Camps’ values. These imperatives supersede any one program of the organization and is why E.C. Week will not continue at Camp Fatima.'”
“When News 9 reached out to the diocese for clarification, a spokesperson provided a statement that said, ‘Code of conduct violations occurred during E.C. Week over the years despite the Camp Board of Directors’ efforts to ensure appropriate volunteer behavior and camper safety.'”
Volunteers involved with Exceptional Citizens Week and Camp Fatima generally believe the expulsion has to do with some campers’ use of Pride flags at the camp this past summer. One volunteer, Andrew Johnson, noted, “We got told to take it down, and we didn’t take it down. We left it up all week. . .I think they really disregard how this affects the campers. It’s all about the campers.”
Johnson added, per The New Hampshire Union Leader, “It’s hard to reconcile these supposed ‘values’ with the legacy of compassion and service that E.C. Week represented.” The program is “a magical week every August and offered their caregivers a much-needed respite,” serving some 150 campers each year.
The diocese has not confirmed whether the expulsion is related to the Pride flags. But many commenters on Exceptional Citizen Week’s Facebook page agreed with Johnson’s assessment. The organizers wrote, in part:
“‘We the volunteers, campers, families, and donors are struggling to see the Catholic values of disbanding a program that has faithfully serviced God’s most beloved children. We also recognize the spirit of EC Week remains in each of us and we will continue to work to keep that space alive. This is heartbreaking news, but it will not break us.'”
The Manchester Diocese has said it will be keeping all donations made towards Exceptional Citizens Week, using them for other programs instead.
Joan Vennochi, a columnist for The Boston Globe, commented on this incident in light of global Catholic controversies over gender and sexuality:
“Decisions like this are nothing new for the Catholic Church. . .Depending upon your perspective, however, the real scandal lies in a church that is supposed to be about love and charity, yet makes harsh and discriminatory judgments about who is worthy of it. Even Pope Francis, the most welcoming of pontiffs when it comes to embracing gay Catholics, has a history of sending mixed messages. . .
“These internal battles at the highest levels of the Catholic Church are more than plot lines for a book or movie. With the cancellation of Exceptional Citizens Week, campers and their families lose something precious — a place that values love and inclusion for all. And so does the church.”