Ive watched the DaVinci Code and now catholics scare me even more
Church and State
Here's the situation;
In Yellowknife right now there is a boiling controversy regarding the Catholic School board.
Brief history…In Canada, Catholic schools have constitutional support, I don't know the exact details, but as I understand it, taxpayers are bound to support Catholic school boards, end of story. (I'm not sure if this is a strictly Canadian thing..?)
In YK, 40% of the Catholic school enrolment is made up of non-Catholic students, as we have a choice whether to send our students to public or Catholic schools, and some people obviously prefer the religious instruction and 'moral atmosphere' of the Catholic system.
So, 40% of my school taxes go to support this system, whether my kids attend or not.
The school board elections are coming up in a few weeks, and the Catholic school board has taken the position that only Catholic persons may stand for election to the board. The problem arises in that there is a current board member who is NOT Catholic, and she wishes to run for re-election.
Aside from the facts that she grew up in this city, attended the Catholic school system all her life, has children in the same system, and has been a board member for several terms, she apparently has been a very active board member and contributed a good deal to the Catholic system. The board is saying this is not personal, but they simply wish to set an example and have an all Catholic board to provide leadership for the school system.
Now, I don't think this should be viewed as a Catholic vs. non-catholic, Islamic, Protestant, Jewish or whatever type of situation, but a lot of people are really upset at the idea of taxation without representation on this school board.
Some people are quite angry at this development, and have gone further to claim that it's another example of the Catholic church's discrimination ( ie. women not fit for the priesthood, single Catholic teacher's fired for getting pregnant, etc….but that's another topic)
I'm not saying anything against any particular religion here, as I think there are plenty of examples of atrocious behaviour in the name of many of the world's established theological doctrines. So let's not dwell on that. I'm just telling you all what people are saying, because a great deal of people are extremely angry about this issue.
I have heard people suggest that if the Catholic school board wants 100 % Catholic control, let them sacrifice the non-Catholic tax dollars to prove their commitment to their faith. This would mean a constitutional challenge, which as you can imagine is no small feat to undertake.
Another person suggested that the board simply make one or two board positions open to non-Catholics, allowing the majority of the board to be Catholic. This seems like a fair compromise, but you'd be surprised how many Catholic people don't like this idea at all.
Non-Catholic people that I've talked to seem to feel that this move further alienates all of us who live, go to school, and work together in this small northern city, and exposes the coldly calculated legal aggression of the board, largely paid for by non-Catholic parents. Some people wonder if this is just the tip of the iceberg, are there plans to exclude non-Catholic parents from the Parent Advisory Committee, which in most communities is responsible for a LOT of work in the schools (fundraising, etc.)….maybe they'll want to segregate the Catholic students from the non-Catholic ones, I mean, that sounds ridiculous, but what's next ?
So, now the decision by the local returning officer to allow the non-Catholic trustee to run for re-election is being challenged in court by the Catholic school board…it's in the hands of a judge.
I just thought this might be an interesting topic around the old Dootalk watercooler. What say you….any interesting solutions to this tempest in a teapot?
Oh, and sorry to be longwinded like Dr. Z, but I wanted to get all the info in there….........
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In Yellowknife right now there is a boiling controversy regarding the Catholic School board.
Brief history…In Canada, Catholic schools have constitutional support, I don't know the exact details, but as I understand it, taxpayers are bound to support Catholic school boards, end of story. (I'm not sure if this is a strictly Canadian thing..?)
In YK, 40% of the Catholic school enrolment is made up of non-Catholic students, as we have a choice whether to send our students to public or Catholic schools, and some people obviously prefer the religious instruction and 'moral atmosphere' of the Catholic system.
So, 40% of my school taxes go to support this system, whether my kids attend or not.
The school board elections are coming up in a few weeks, and the Catholic school board has taken the position that only Catholic persons may stand for election to the board. The problem arises in that there is a current board member who is NOT Catholic, and she wishes to run for re-election.
Aside from the facts that she grew up in this city, attended the Catholic school system all her life, has children in the same system, and has been a board member for several terms, she apparently has been a very active board member and contributed a good deal to the Catholic system. The board is saying this is not personal, but they simply wish to set an example and have an all Catholic board to provide leadership for the school system.
Now, I don't think this should be viewed as a Catholic vs. non-catholic, Islamic, Protestant, Jewish or whatever type of situation, but a lot of people are really upset at the idea of taxation without representation on this school board.
Some people are quite angry at this development, and have gone further to claim that it's another example of the Catholic church's discrimination ( ie. women not fit for the priesthood, single Catholic teacher's fired for getting pregnant, etc….but that's another topic)
I'm not saying anything against any particular religion here, as I think there are plenty of examples of atrocious behaviour in the name of many of the world's established theological doctrines. So let's not dwell on that. I'm just telling you all what people are saying, because a great deal of people are extremely angry about this issue.
I have heard people suggest that if the Catholic school board wants 100 % Catholic control, let them sacrifice the non-Catholic tax dollars to prove their commitment to their faith. This would mean a constitutional challenge, which as you can imagine is no small feat to undertake.
Another person suggested that the board simply make one or two board positions open to non-Catholics, allowing the majority of the board to be Catholic. This seems like a fair compromise, but you'd be surprised how many Catholic people don't like this idea at all.
Non-Catholic people that I've talked to seem to feel that this move further alienates all of us who live, go to school, and work together in this small northern city, and exposes the coldly calculated legal aggression of the board, largely paid for by non-Catholic parents. Some people wonder if this is just the tip of the iceberg, are there plans to exclude non-Catholic parents from the Parent Advisory Committee, which in most communities is responsible for a LOT of work in the schools (fundraising, etc.)….maybe they'll want to segregate the Catholic students from the non-Catholic ones, I mean, that sounds ridiculous, but what's next ?
So, now the decision by the local returning officer to allow the non-Catholic trustee to run for re-election is being challenged in court by the Catholic school board…it's in the hands of a judge.
I just thought this might be an interesting topic around the old Dootalk watercooler. What say you….any interesting solutions to this tempest in a teapot?
Oh, and sorry to be longwinded like Dr. Z, but I wanted to get all the info in there….........
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A reasonable solution, but one the Board does not consider acceptable. They are interested only in achieving this total Catholic school board, and are not willing to consider any other alternativethermopylae said:
Hmmm...rigidity, another charming trait that a lot of religions share. Kind of gives me the willies whenever I hear "Thou shalt NOT...."
I feel bad for the woman who has been a loyal and hard-working board member in the past, the rest of the board has assured her it's not 'personal', but how the heck else do you take it when you're being asked to exclude yourself because of your beliefs ?? In my book, that's discrimination.
Isn't this move by the board a backward step in interfaith relations ? Or just the Church's attempt to shore up a crumbling grassroots foundation ?
You should see the letters to the editor.....wow.
You'd think the opposition to this move was working in league with Satan.
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I had a nice, full post to reply with, but my computer crashed (not dootalk...). I guess that somebody wants things His way...
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Anyways, the part of tyhe post I remember is this...
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Anyways, the part of tyhe post I remember is this...
In that case, you could declare the pastor a witch and BURN him...papasled said:
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i got to a cathoilc school and i am not Catholic, went to public school and hated itpapasled said:
the shool i go to know has been on the top 50 Catholic schools in the nation 3 years in a row
I thought so too, Terry, but I found out today that even if a majority of the population decided to select one board over another, the Territorial gov't would step in and divide the monies up anyway they see fit. So it doesn't really matter what we choose, really.nwtguy said:
A little clause in the Canadian constitution. Any experts on that here ??
G
The territories do not have to abide by the Canadian Constitution if I`m correct instead they are regulated by laws from the federal government so that means that territorial government can do what they want to a certain extent.papasled said:I thought so too, Terry, but I found out today that even if a majority of the population decided to select one board over another, the Territorial gov't would step in and divide the monies up anyway they see fit. So it doesn't really matter what we choose, really.nwtguy said:
A little clause in the Canadian constitution. Any experts on that here ??
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I could see that happening. I was told today by a coworker that back a few years ago some would pick their money going to catholic because the tax amount was less then the YK1 tax rate. then later on they made it the same amount for both groups.papasled said:I thought so too, Terry, but I found out today that even if a majority of the population decided to select one board over another, the Territorial gov't would step in and divide the monies up anyway they see fit. So it doesn't really matter what we choose, really.nwtguy said:
A little clause in the Canadian constitution. Any experts on that here ??
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Anyhow, it will be interesting how it all plays out.
And you thought that movie was real???????MTM said:
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