
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A free speech debate rages at a Catholic school in Minnesota after a student newspaper deleted two op-eds that generated controversy for being critical of the Catholic church and supportive of gay teenagers.
According to Minnesota Public Radio, the op-eds in the Knight Errant newspaper at Benilde-St. Margaret's school in St. Louis Park accompanied an article about the Preserving Marriage in Minnesota DVDs sent by bishops to the state's Catholics prior to the recent elections. Senior Bernardo Vigil called the DVD "unsubstantiated."
A piece by Sean Simonson about the struggles of life as a gay teenager touched off the fiercest debate. He said he was moved to write by the recent series of LGBT youth suicides. The op-ed generated more than 90 comments, many positive, but some quite negative.
"Benilde-St. Margaret's principal Sue Skinner called Simonson's parents a day after the piece ran, and also talked to Simonson," reported MPR. "School administrators declined to be interviewed for this story, but Simonson said the principal wanted the newspaper to stop taking comments on the piece. Simonson disagreed."
Instead, the newspaper staff and their faculty adviser decided to remove the op-eds and comments entirely from the website and to post an explanation from the principal.
The explanation said in part, "While lively debate and discussion clearly has its place in a Catholic school, this particular discussion is not appropriate because the level of intensity has created an unsafe environment for students. As importantly, the articles and ensuing online postings have created confusion about Church teaching."
Vigil and Simonson expressed concern that the deletion suggests the critics have won, but they saw hope in a vibrant conversation now moving to Facebook, reported MPR.
DON'T MISS THE OUT100 SPECIAL 3 DAY MARATHON STARTING NOVEMBER 24TH!
Journey through the year’s influential Out100 – the most iconic and long-standing celebration of LGBTQ+ icons and allies – in a 1-hour television special spotlighting the LGBTQ+ people shaping the world today.
WATCH & LIVESTREAM ON ADVOCATECHANNEL.COM
AND ON THE ADVOCATE CHANNEL APP
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Lauren Boebert Caught Fondling Date’s Genitals During Family-Friendly Musical: Video
September 15 2023 11:20 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Prosecutors Say Nonbinary Mexican Magistrate Died in Horrific Murder-Suicide
November 25 2023 1:45 PM
Most Americans Don’t Want States Able to Ban Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Kids
November 24 2023 11:55 AM
Log Cabin Republicans President on Giving Antigay Mike Johnson 'The Benefit of the Doubt'
November 24 2023 8:53 AM
Stephen Miller's Legal Firm Sues Arizona School District Over Trans-Supportive Policies
November 23 2023 12:17 PM
Mike Johnson Says His High School Friends Would Have Claimed to Be Trans to Spy on Girls
November 22 2023 5:00 PM