OAPCE for 75 years the parental voice in Catholic education?

Letter to the editor from Lou Iacobelli in response to “OAPCE for 75 years the parental voice in Catholic education,” The Catholic Register, June 1, 2014:

Dear Mr. O'Leary,

Re: “OAPCE for 75 years the parental voice in Catholic education,” The Catholic Register, June 1, 2014

How can the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, OECTA, and the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education, OAPCE, claim that they represent a parental voice for Catholic education? James Ryan, OECTA’s president says that together these organizations “recognize the importance and value of parents in Catholic education and the incredibly important role they do.” But did these groups make an effort to inform and consult with parents when the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy was being passed? Are they doing anything to defend Catholic education presently? The answer is no. Equity education essentially rejects Catholic education when it comes to human sexuality, the family and marriage. For example, how can anyone try to reconcile teaching students that there are twelve “genders” and still say that this Catholic teaching? It’s not. To do so is to play a verbal game in order to mask the truth.

All three organizations, OECTA, OAPCE and ICE, the Institute for Catholic Education, at least should tell parents the truth. Loyalty to the faith and the Catechism of the Catholic Church and not the politics of correctness are at the heart of Catholic education. By merely saying that these groups are working with the school, parish and home to advance Catholic education is misleading and deceptive. Words alone without action to back them are just that, empty words and nothing more. This is why OECTA believes it can support the upcoming World Pride parade in Toronto even in defiance of the objection to do so by Thomas Cardinal Collins.

Thank you,
Lou Iacobelli
Toronto