Activists react to anti-gay "Pilot" column

Author Pakaluk continues to draw criticism.

The Pilot -- the "Official Newspaper of the Boston Archdiocese" -- has come under increased scrutiny following an editorial from Bay Windows Co-publisher Sue O'Connell criticizing an anti-gay column submission.

In a June 4 opinion piece entitled, "Children in the custody of same-sex parents in parochial schools," Michael Pakaluk expressed his concern about his son's classmate -- who, Pakaluk reported, is "being raised by his father and another man." The author bemoaned the "inevitability of scandal" that the boy's presence brought to the school, and then voiced his fears that "the boy being raised by the same-sex couple would bring to the school something obscene or pornographic...as they go along with the same-sex lifestyle." Pakaluk referred to same-sex relationships as "inherently eroticized and pornographic."

Boston-based and national LGBT activists were quick to react. The Family Equality Council, an LGBT advocacy organization, responded to Pakaluk's column on June 10, saying, "Only someone like Mr. Pakaluk -- who apparently harbors extreme and unusual fears about the gay community -- would dream up something abut pornography in the classroom." Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of the Family Equality Council, went on to say, "The truth is this argument may say more about Mr. Pakaluk's proclivities; it certainly has nothing to do with how gay parents raise our children."

O'Connell referred to Pakaluk's piece (which can be viewed at http://bit.ly/d7yMDY) as "a misguided, hateful, and horrid little column." She wrote that The Pilot's decision to publish it "is hurtful to all children."

Following the public outcry, Pakaluk released a statement apologizing for his remarks on homosexuality and pornography. "I expressed what I wished to say poorly and in a way that might give offense," he wrote. "If it caused offense to anyone, I sincerely apologize." If he were given the chance to re-write the column, he said, "I would place more emphasis on some points raised elsewhere in the article. I stand by the substance in the rest of the article."

Antonio M. Enrique, Editor of The Pilot, released a statement in response to criticism of Pakaluk's piece on June 9. "Regular Pilot columnists write freely on topics of their choice and they are responsible for the content," he wrote. "The tone of the piece was strong and we apologize if anyone felt offended by it." Enrique went on to say that the views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the Boston Archdiocese. "Mr. Pakaluk's column, as is the case with other opinion pieces, does not necessarily represent a specific position or endorsement of The Pilot or the Archdiocese."

According to the Archdiocese, Pakaluk -- who is a Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences in Arlington, VA, formerly taught at Clark University in Worcester, and has been a visiting scholar at Harvard University -- has been penning monthly pieces for The Pilot since 2002.

Elsewhere in his June 4 opinion piece, Pakaluk wrote that by allowing the child of a same-sex couple to attend parochial school, the administration ran the risk of "leading a 'little one' astray in some serious manner." He also opined that same-sex parents' access to their child's classroom could put other students in danger. "[P]arents are rightly given access to a child's classroom, and yet I could not trust the designs of a same-sex couple."

The Family Equality Council in their statement reiterated the fact that the Boston Archdiocese does not share Pakaluk's views. "The Boston Archdiocese disagrees with Mr. Pakaluk on the question of whether kids of same-sex couples can attend Catholic school," Chrisler said. "The Archdiocese recently reiterated its policy that children of same-sex couples can indeed attend Catholic school."

The Child Welfare League of America firmly states their views of same-sex parenting on their website, cwla.org. "Any attempt to preclude or prevent gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals or couples from parenting, based solely on their sexual orientation, is not in the best interest of children," the website reads. "CWLA...affirms that gay, lesbian, and bisexual parents are as well suited to raise children as their heterosexual counterparts." The organization, in place since 1920, advocates on behalf of children's rights and welfare.

The Boston Globe reported that in a letter to the editor of The Pilot, Monsignor Paul V. Garrity of St. Mary's Parish in Lynn wrote that parochial and Catholic schools have long been welcoming to children of same-sex couples. "To begin to discriminate against children who have two mommies or two daddies would fly in the face of this very proud tradition," he said.

Increased attention has been paid to the children of same-sex couples who attend parochial school since Hingham's St. Paul Elementary School in May barred the son of two lesbians from matriculating, despite the fact that the 8-year-old had already been accepted to the Catholic school.

During a conference call with parish priest Rev. James Rafferty and principal Cynthia Duggan, the third-grader's parents learned that he would be denied admission because their relationship is "in discord" with church teachings.

"We weren't hiding," one of the boy's mothers, who was granted anonymity fearing that publicity would harm the child, said. She and her partner each listed their names on their son's admission forms. "I'm accustomed to discrimination, I suppose, at my age and my experience as a gay woman. ...But I didn't expect it against my child."

Since then, the Boston Archdiocese has offered to help the boy's mothers find a different Catholic school for him to attend. According to a statement, superintendent Mary Grassa O'Neill spoke with one of the parents and "offered to help enroll her child in another Catholic school in the archdiocese."

"We believe that every parent who wishes to send their child to a Catholic school should have the opportunity to pursue that dream," O'Neill said.

One of the mothers said that O'Neill apologized, and called her remarks "compassionate."

While Massachusetts does have laws barring discrimination based on sexual orientation in schools, these laws apply only to public schools.