By Gibbons Cooney
On March 7, I was contacted by the mother of a student at Presentation High School in the diocese of San Jose. She had a disturbing story. She wrote “For years I had heard of the phenomenal education girls receive at Presentation, and I so far have not been disappointed with the high level academics… However, what I have come to find has been extremely upsetting and it is where this school is heading as far as the Catholic faith is concerned.” She told us that last month, Presentation “…celebrated ‘Community Development Week’ focused on Diversity.” One day was entirely devoted to guest speakers and panels, which included Intersectionality, Identity and Inclusion and TRANSformed Gender & Sexuality – Knowing Thyself.
“My daughter did not get her first session choices, rather she was placed in two sessions, one on ‘Activism’ and the second on ‘Bi-Sexuality’. The day began with Dr. Sandra (Chap) Chapman who gave a talk on Racial-Ethnic Identity Development and Racial Anxiety. At one point she asked the entire student body if whoever felt part of the LGBTQ community to stand up. According to my daughter, MANY girls stood up and Dr. Chapman told those that were still seated to applaud for the ones standing. Afterwards my daughter’s afternoon was filled with what bi-sexuality is, how to identify it and how to keep bi-sexuals from being bullied. My husband and I were absolutely dumbfounded since we knew little to nothing about what the day would entail. To our knowledge, we did not have the choice to have our daughters opt out of these sessions.”
The mother, who had already contacted the diocese of San Jose “to no avail,” closed with a plea for help: “I know we are not the only parents and students who feel threatened and know that our school and our faith are being tested. In fact, one of my daughter’s religion teachers has said statements such as ‘this is what the Church teaches, however, I disagree with it’. How can we teach our kids to grow in faith when they are faced, daily with everything that goes against it?”
It is difficult to imagine the diocese of San Jose taking any corrective action against Presentation, because it is difficult to imagine they see anything that needs to be corrected. The ‘Family Diversity’ page on the webpage of the diocese of San Jose contains six links. Five of the six links go to external sites: Catholic Divorced Ministry, Catholic Military Families, Raising Children with Special Needs, National Catholic Office of the Deaf, and National Catholic Partnership on Disability. The “Raising Children with Special Needs” links to the website of the San Jose Public Library.
The only one of the six that links to an actual program of the diocese is titled “Pastoral Guidelines”. But that title takes you to the document “Diocese of San Jose Guidelines for the Catholic LGBT Ministry Council, Patrick J. McGrath Bishop of San Jose.”
In contrast to the dismissive ’help’ supplied to parents of Children with Special Needs, the Guidelines for Catholic LGBT Ministry is four pages long, with clearly enunciated instructions: “The bishop will appoint the chaplain and the members of The Catholic LGBT Ministry Council comprising no fewer than seven nor more than fifteen members, qualified and experienced in the pastoral and professional areas required by this ministry. The Council will establish its own organization and procedures to address its principal tasks….the Catholic LGBT Ministry Council meets monthly at the Offices of the Diocese of San Jose. To contact Members of the Committee, to volunteer service on its subcommittees and to seek assistance relative to this ministry, please contact The Catholic LGBT Ministry Council.”
Ironically, the “Family Life” webpage of the diocese also has an attached “Sex Education” page, which informs Catholic parents of public school students that “Parents DO have a say in what, whether, and how public schools teach THEIR CHILDREN about sex. Parents of children in California public schools have these rights: To be notified about planned sexual education instruction; To review those materials in advance of the instruction taking place; To “opt-out” or excuse their child from attending — in part or all — sex and HIV-prevention education programs.”
I assume Presentation is an all-girls Catholic school. I long ago taught in that milieu before the advent of LGBT rights, nevertheless I noticed a strong anti-male sentiment among the administration and some faculty, though I did not notice it among the students. A cultural sea-change later, we have a school full of potential lesbians, or so it seems. I don’t believe human nature has changed in this short time, but the culture has with the Church’s indifference if not down-right blessing. These are the times where heroic virtue is required, but I don’t think that idea floats well in chancery offices across the United States. Dr. Chapman should have asked her students if they believe in God’s moral laws, and have those who stood applauded. It is much easier nowadays to swim with the cultural tide than against it.
hi! dr chapman actually did mention different religions, so catholics/christians were given an opportunity to stand up and receive applause! as for potential lesbians, as not being straight is very natural and you are born with it, anyone can be a potential lesbian :)
It’s been a rather well-known “open secret” for years locally that this school had, and maybe still has, active lesbians as teachers and administrators. That mother may want to contact Jennifer Beltramo, the superintendent of schools for the Diocese of San Jose, and Bishop Cantu directly. Their diocesan web page has that information.
To what Religious Order or Congregation do these Sisters belong?
Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Most of their schools have closed. The number of Sisters has been steadily declining. They get few new vocations to religious life. Most of the teachers and staff are dissenting lay persons.
There are also active straight male teachers, but you don’t criticize them or call it an open secret.
If any “active straight male teachers” are engaging in sexual activity with anyone other than their wives (one per husband), I know of no one who is not equally as critical of them. The issue is immoral, and sometimes illegal, sexual behavior. It is no secret that male Presentation teachers have sexually abused girls who were students. That’s not any kind of secret at all, it’s been in the local news repeatedly over the past couple of years.
Dan, calling it a school of potential lesbians is worse than what that speaker did. Those girls are not lesbians. Kids today are under all kinds of pressures, especially when it comes to sex. Once someone shames them, like calling them potential lesbians, it leaves them more vulnerable to exploitation. It erodes their self-confidence and they can start to wonder, am I? Maybe I’ll kiss a girl and see what happens.
What happened at the school is unconscionable. Every teenager is filled with angst and confusion about this stuff. This does not help anyone. They can get stuff like this online. There are so many problems in the world and so much sin, to have a Catholic school contributing to it like this, is horrific.
Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Elizabeth, please pray for them.
Don’t dilute your complaints by broadening the complaint to the whole diocese. Don’t dilute your complaint by over-explaining why you find it wrong. Complain to the right people-first, Dr. Chapman, then whoever taught the course on bi-sexuality. Find out who arranged this program and complain to them. Complain to the principal and the President. It really is not a diocesan matter, except it is your duty as a responsible Catholic to let the bishop know that this has happened in his diocese. You don’t want to complain so that he will do something, but just to make him aware. Don’t expect praise as you are only doing your duty.
yes, please do complain to the 16 year old who hosted a workshop trying to inform people on why NOT to bully bisexuals
Gaslighting has become a frequently used term in the media, even though they don’t recognize their own.
One definition is Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual, making them question their own memory, perception, or judgment, often evoking in them cognitive dissonance and other changes such as low self-esteem.
It is messing with people’s heads. It is psychological abuse. It is bullying. When someone is ignorant, and all teenagers are ignorant about sexuality and other subjects about sex (even if they are sexually active), giving them false information or even just information they are not ready for, is evil. I understand that a lot of adults are victims themselves and are themselves confused..
Don’t let anyone define you. Don’t believe adults who mess with kids. Not all bad people are mean. There are forms of bullying where the bully does not make the victim feel bad but makes them feel better. This is called grooming. If any adult tells you “Don’t tell your parents.” immediately tell your parents.
My kid would be pulled out of that school. I would not trust anybody there.
Again why the shock? These are no longer Roman Catholic schools, they ceased to be decades ago after Vatican II, most are run by nuns dressed in skirts, earrings, makeup, and they teach the students about Social Justice, Global warming, LGBTQ rights, hating straight white men, open borders, Socialism. It has been 50 years since the New Springtime was foisted upon the Church and it will take decades to correct all that Vatican II did to destroy the Church, it will never happen in our lifetime folks. So in the meantime seek out the TLM wherever you can find it and find solace and hope for the future.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.”
Another rad trad seeking to hate on the New Mass is all you are. She needs a proper
school for her kids, not rad trad advice. If everyone left, who or what will be left? Vat II
didn’t do this. Poor implementation did. The final word is that PARENTS are a child’s
first teachers and by now, they should be more aware of this than ever.
What else would you expect from “the most gay-friendly diocese in the nation”? http://www.metroactive.com/metro/11.18.09/cover-0946.html
I always bristle at the statement “parents cannot opt out their child”. Schools are not prisons and parents are still in charge of their child.
The parents should contact the California Chapter of Mass Resistance.
If a Catholic school charging $thousands in tuition infects students souls in bad worship, doctrine, or false charity, why waste the money? The same can be gotten at public schools for free. The corruption is in the whole diocese or it would not have gone this far at the school. Wise up, parents. Educate your children in the faith at home and do not expose them to false teachings anymore than you would expose them to COVID-19. Vaccinate them with good worship, sound doctrine, and acts of charity to guide their spiritual formation.
Aquinas writes about directing ones appetites towards the things that the Roman Catholic Church says we ought and should be doing in our own lives.
Perhaps female homosexuals are jealous of the success that their male counterparts enjoyed while they were raping altar boys and managing to keep everything secret. Perhaps they would like to set up their own sex abuse machine. Keep your children away from them!!!!
Wow this comment is absolutely horrendous. I suggest you delete it and pray for Jesus to forgive.
These “teachers”, who should be fired, are encouraging the worship of the god Pan and pagan idols instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is time for the shield of St. Patrick against such evil forces.
“I summon today all these powers (The Holy Trinity and angels) between me and those evils; against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul; against incantations of false prophets; against black laws of pagandom; against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry; against the spells of women, and smiths, and wizards; against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.”
Learn the full Breastplate of St. Patrick that is longer and say it in this time of great evil.
Children cannot give consent to sex or sexuality. So if a bunch of perverts or misadvised educators hide and used the school as a backdrop to offer bisexual activity or consider an opportunity to engage in bisexual encounters you should go to you nearest and dearest district attorney and swear out an arrest warrant for making sexual advances at your daughter…arrest the perverts aka panelist…who are recruiters…it is filth…the violate the law…junveniles cannot consent and therefore do not make any below the waist offers to them!
No homosexual female teachers have ever been reported offering sex to students. The most recent case of sexual harassment against a student was against a straight male teacher.
It seems that my computer can no longer get posts even onto this website, for possible acceptance! Something is wrong! Anyway– so I will try this, on a public computer! I am so sorry for the complete corruption and collapse of Catholic schools, worldwide! It seems the Church just ignores it, sadly! Satan is busy, educating future Catholics, corrupting and destroying them! Best to Homeschool!
Looks like I got this post onto the website, for possible acceptance! Wonderful! The public computer worked!
And yet she still hasn’t removed her child from the school.
She shouldn’t, it’s an excellent school.
The Pope himself has said that he allies with the LGBTQ community and he is a direct line to God. Saying that we shouldn’t teach our Catholic students LGBTQ studies goes directly against what the Pope, and thus God says. I understand if you don’t want your own kid to learn LGBTQ studies, that is all right, as it’s your decision, but there is no way to keep her from seeing everything on the internet anyway. And you shouldn’t! Your child deserves explore their sexuality.
Lady Justice I’m not a RAD TRAD I’m a Roman Catholic simple as that. You can have your altar girls, hand holding, kiss of peace, folk, rock, Mariachi, jazz, music, girls dancing around in leotards, clapping, clown masses, lay lectors, standing for Holy Communion in the hand and so on. We on the other hand want the real deal i.e. Latin, kneeling for Holy Communion on the tongue, Gregorian chant, Mozart, Palestrina, Hayden, altar boys, organ, incense, bells, proper attire, this my dear is called Roman Catholicism!
“kneeling for Holy Communion on the tongue”……that sounds sexual lady. Also you state you are no “RAD TRAD” and yet you go on to prove your rad tradism. Funny.
Anonymous 3-12-2020 at 8:48, calling “kneeling for Holy Communion on the tongue” sexual is kind of blasphemous.
why the username Romulus Augustus? Caesar was against Catholics
Lady justice?!?! Lmao. Roman Catholics still obey the Pope, no matter in what way you receive your communion or language you speak during mass.
Hi All! I just wanted to say that nowhere in scripture does it say being queer is wrong. If Jesus were alive today, he would be hanging out with queer people, sex workers, disabled/ill people, and POC explicitly. These seminars are so important in teaching students about marginalized people in their community and building empathy. To the mom who had an issue and anyone for that matter, trust your intolerance is the most un Christian thing you can practice. It’s nothing more than hatred. Christianity is rooted in love and tolerance. I implore you to find some empathy, read on queer culture, watch some queer movies. I applaud the administration and faculty/staff at presentation for doing this day in a difficult climate to help educate the brilliant catholic women of tomorrow.
-sincerely a San Jose Queer Catholic Parent
Being tempted is not a sin, but giving into the temptation and/or encouraging others to do so IS a sin.
Jesus told the woman he saved from stoning to sin no more lest something worse happen to her. In other words if she kept it up, he might just let her suffer the consequences of her actions. He did not “hang around” with serious sinners either who refused to listen to him him and improve their behavior. In fact he told the Apostles to shake the dust from their feet if the people of the town would not listen to him.
What was the first thing St. John the Baptist and all the the true prophets said? Anyone who has read the Bible knows it was, “Repent.” No repentance, no forgiveness.
Jesus is alive today. That is the whole foundation of Christianity. Christianity is rooted in love. The love of God for us sinners. Do you know our Lady of Fatima? Please pray the Rosary daily.
There is no one more marginalized than traditional Catholics. If you, as a queer Catholic parent complained that something in the school made your kid uncomfortable, heads would roll. If a traditional Catholic complains, they are just talked about as “one of those.”
I can ask why you have no name Anonymous at 8:51pm?
As a bisexual woman and a student at Pres, I feel extremely offended by these opinions. Pres does not falter from their religious faith. If you think that the church should have no connection to the LGBTQ+ community, that’s your opinion to have. Although the Pope, a direct connection to God, has publicly allied himself with the pride community. Thank you Pope! Pres is a very open community, who should not be judged based on your intolerant beliefs. Girls do not become Gay, bisexual, etc. from going to Pres. Most students, like myself, were already aware of their sexuality, but do to the opinions of parents or people close to them, were forced to be closeted out of some idea that who they are is wrong. Telling your child that they are ungodly based on sexuality or gender preference can lead to mental issues. If you truly love them, you won’t stop them from being who they are. Everyone is beautiful and perfect! It doesn’t matter if a man or woman wants to love the same sex, or want to change their gender. Doing what makes us feel comfortable is how we grow as people.
It’s not the 19th century, women are powerful and so are LGBTQ+.
“The wolf(us) does not concern itself with the opinion of sheep(haters).”
Hello! I am not sure if anyone is reading this comment, as it has been nearly a month since the article was posted. However, I would like to say that I am the person who led the workshop at Presentation, and I would like to clear up any misconceptions. The first is the idea that these workshops were completely mandatory, with no options at all. The students were technically required to attend, but they were allowed to skip the day with a slight penalty and a make-up assignment. Additionally, the students signed up for workshops they wanted, and were guaranteed at least one top-three pick and had a near-guarantee of all workshops being from their top-ten selection.
Another misconception is that these workshops were led by teachers. Most workshops were created and led by students, and I am, in fact, a minor.
Finally, this workshop was in no way “propaganda” or trying to change anyone’s sexuality. I was trying to educate students on the existence of bigotry against bisexual (there is no hyphen) people. I did this in an effort to help those who are targeted by harassment from both the heterosexual and LGBT+ communities. I find that education is the best way to combat bigotry, as frequently it originates in misinformation and stereotypes. Therefore, I find it extremely ironic that this article, which is little better than gossip, resulted from my efforts. Perhaps the anonymous Presentation parent should have attended my workshop as well, along with most of the commenters here (with special exception to Donna). If you have any questions, feel free to contact me either in the comments section here or via email, which will be provided upon request. However, do keep in mind that I am a minor and I know my rights, and excessive harassment will not be tolerated.