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aneed2know 2012/05/08 09:39:33
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Bishop won't let group publicly honor gay student

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Overruling school officials, a Catholic bishop in Iowa said Monday he would not let a group that promotes equal rights for gays and lesbians present a college scholarship to an openly gay student during an upcoming award ceremony.

Bishop Martin Amos in Davenport said the Eychaner Foundation would not be allowed to present theMatthew Shepard Scholarship to Keaton Fuller during the May 20 ceremony at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Clinton, saying the group's support for gay rights conflicts with church doctrine.

The announcement comes after a school official signed a document last month that promised to let a representative of the foundation's scholarship committee present the award to Fuller.

In an open letter released Monday, Fuller said he's never felt so "invalidated and unaccepted" as he did when he heard that news last week. He said he and his family were asking the school to reverse its decision, and he launched an online petition Monday that was signed by hundreds of supporters within its first hours.

"This whole ordeal has been incredibly hurtful, and I am even sadder that this will be one of my last experiences to remember my high school years by," Fuller wrote.

The bishop's decision also stunned school officials, who had encouraged Fuller to apply for the award and wrote letters on his behalf.

Founded by Iowa businessman and gay rights activist Rich Eychaner, the Des Moines-based foundation has awarded more than 130 Matthew Shepard scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender since 2000. It is named for the gay Wyoming college student killed in 1998.

Citing his scholastic achievement and work fighting homophobia, the foundation chose Fuller this spring as one of three students for the gold scholarship, which is worth up to $40,000 over four years to attend one of Iowa's three public universities. Fuller, 18, plans to go to the University of Iowa.

Fuller is believed to be the first gay student at a Catholic high school to attend multiple school dances with a partner of the same sex, said foundation executive director Michael Bowser.

"We were very proud of him for that," he said.

Bowser said the group's award presentations are part of the scholarship process because they send a message of acceptance. He said three other Catholic schools had rejected presentations for scholarship recipients in prior years, but the group thought Prince of Peace would be the first to allow it, given the staff's support for Fuller.

Despite the school's promise, Amos told Fuller's parents last week that church policies on guest speakers would prohibit it, the Diocese of Davenport said in a statement. The policy says, "We cannot allow any one or any organization which promotes a position that is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church to present at a diocesan institution."

The diocese's statement congratulated Fuller for winning "the generous award," and said it would be announced by a school employee during the assembly.

School Board President Edward O'Neill said he was disappointed by the bishop's decision. He said Fuller was a talented student who was accepted by his peers after coming out years ago. He said Fuller had taken his boyfriend to prom over the weekend and other school dances without controversy.

O'Neill said board members were briefed on the scholarship last month, and they were aware a foundation representative planned to present the scholarship. No one raised an objection until the bishop got involved, he said.

"We preach tolerance and acceptance but then we turn around and we don't practice what we preach," he said. "If the bishop says we're not going to do it, I can voice my objection to it, but there's not a whole lot I can do."

Eychaner issued a statement saying he was shocked that the bishop believes the foundation's work clashes with church teachings, noting it promotes tolerance and fights bullying. And he said he was confused how the bishop found the award itself acceptable to be announced but not by its sponsor.

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  • no no 2012/05/08 14:01:42
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    no no
    +11
    And the beat goes on.......TOP 10 SIGNS YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN

    10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of your god.

    9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from lesser life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

    8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Trinity god.

    7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" -- including women, children, and trees!

    6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

    5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loop-holes in the scientifically established age of the Earth (4.55 billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by pre-historic tribesmen sitting in their ten...









    And the beat goes on.......TOP 10 SIGNS YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN

    10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of your god.

    9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from lesser life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

    8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Trinity god.

    7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" -- including women, children, and trees!

    6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

    5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loop-holes in the scientifically established age of the Earth (4.55 billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by pre-historic tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that the Earth is a couple of generations old.

    4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects -- will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet you consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving".

    3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to prove Christianity.

    2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.

    1 - You actually know a lot less than many Atheists and Agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history -- but still call yourself a Christian.

    Posted from Pistol Princess "In tornado-ravaged Bible Belt, Churches Mobilize to Help"
    (more)

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  • D.C.Ver... James R... 2012/05/09 18:10:02
    D.C.Verdone
    That's bull this boy just wanted what he rightfully earned. If idiots outside of that (say someone who IS trying to promote that) then it should be ignored. It should have been done for the boys sake and no one else's. I also can't see how Jesus being ok with the boys being excluded in any way.
  • Sir Bud 2012/05/08 12:06:28
    comment
    Sir Bud
    +2
    Another false prophet.
  • Link 2012/05/08 11:38:03
    comment
    Link
    +4
    This quote (from the article) says it all:

    "We preach tolerance and acceptance but then we turn around and we don't practice what we preach,"
  • no no Link 2012/05/08 14:09:44
    no no
    True, the ultimate of cognitive dissonance...inconsistency between beliefs and actions. But it simply red flags the 'pick and choose' principles of Christians. Caveat emptor !!!!!
  • T. James H 2012/05/08 11:26:31
  • aneed2know T. James H 2012/05/08 11:35:28
    aneed2know
    +1
    Further more you ass, dont you come one my question and try to raw with me because i will serve your a$$ up on a platter. Next you stupid piece of human filth, if they don't want to follow secular law then they should mind their own business and stop trying to influence our government, if they want to continue to receive tax free status then they should stay out of politics. Third of you human pile of human feces, where were their moral teachings while they were shuffling pedophile priest around to parishes throughout the world. No i am sorry you lose all credibility will you allow evil things to happen to the most vulnerable among us.

    Now consider this a warning, the next time you will be blocked, we can have a civil discussion but i will not tolerate you coming on my poll and getting raw
  • Scaldar... aneed2know 2012/05/08 12:08:39
    Scaldari Anitoba
    +5
    Wow..... I've read Travis's post 3 times and i cannot see where he was a. being uncivil or b. "getting raw" with you. He gave a very well thought out opinion and only criticized your lack of posting options, not the discussion itself. You on the other had have gone completely on the personal attack level which validated his very first point. Travis is not a Catholic and as far as i am aware his churches teachings completely oppose most Catholic doctrine. As far as the CathChurch trying to influence government, if your referring to the recent Birth Control episode, that was more of a case of the State trying to influence church policy, as they did not want to remove it for the population at large, just wanted to be exempt due to Doctrine I do believe that the church officials that protected pedopriests have been taken care of, of course i could be wrong.

    Lets be civil in this and not attack persons, just rebuttal idea's.
  • Nameless aneed2know 2012/05/08 12:45:23
    Nameless
    +2
    That was really, truly unnecessary.
  • VicenteC aneed2know 2012/05/08 14:36:26
    VicenteC
    +2
    Dude: chill out...I don't see why you have to respond in such a manner...maybe if it bothers you so much or your gonna get so anal by responding so personal and totally unprofessional...I think maybe you shouldn't post then. But its a free country and before you pass judgment on me or try attempt to send me some of your incoherent responses, one.. I'm not gay (not crazy about all this gay thing we seem to adopt, but we have to adapt), not that religious either-but I won't judge on gays or religion, becuz again it's a free country...this is why I served 26 yrs in the Marines and my son along with me AND the countless of others who served and continue to do so...So individuals like you have those rights to express yourself, but we don't need your yapppity yap... Peace.
  • T. James H aneed2know 2012/05/08 23:47:47
  • Guru_T_... T. James H 2012/05/08 13:03:13
    Guru_T_Firefly
    +1
    It's sad that you made such a pitiful attempt to discredit the left on a thread that thoroughly proves the right's heartfelt ignorance and intolerance. No one asked what you thought of those on the left.
  • T. James H Guru_T_... 2012/05/08 21:31:38
  • T. James H T. James H 2012/05/09 00:27:09
  • comment
    Jerry (Iron Priest)☮ R ☮ P ☮ 201
    +3
    You judge us all by the actions on one person?
  • aneed2know Jerry (... 2012/05/08 10:44:14
    aneed2know
    +1
    Not hard to do when the crazy are the ones with the loudest voices so maybe those with some sense should make louder noise.
  • T. James H aneed2know 2012/05/08 11:30:09 (edited)
  • Scaldar... aneed2know 2012/05/08 12:10:35
    Scaldari Anitoba
    +3
    So then we should judge all Black Christians by the loudness of Rev Wright or just black people in general by New Black Panthers?
  • VicenteC aneed2know 2012/05/08 14:42:07
    VicenteC
    Man...not making any sense,..you seem to be on something...if not, maybe get on it...like a boat to some secluded island somewhere far..far away!

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2013/05/22 00:57:14

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