Yukon schools divided on gays

A Bishop’s sexual orientation counselling policy for publicly funded Catholic schools in Whitehorse, Yukon, is dividing parents, writes Peter Kavanagh.

The need for a new policy arose in the spring when the Territorial Minister of Education ruled the existing policy, which cited the Church’s teachings on homosexuality, a contravention of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Bishop Gary Gordon drafted a new policy which still makes reference to some church documents. Some parents told a public meeting that Catholic schools should follow secular schools while others accused the diocese of capitulating to secular values. The diocese is still assessing the feedback.