The Councilwoman is “a pro-gay-marriage politician – and that was problematic,” says the school’s priest.
A North Carolina Catholic school uninvited a newly-elected Durham city councilwoman from a Black history month celebration because she is a lesbian. Councilwoman Vernetta Alston (photo) is Black, a lesbian, married to a woman, a mother, an attorney, and she also happens to be an alumna of the school, as WRAL reports.
Father Chris VanHaight, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, not only uninvited the councilwoman, he canceled classes on Friday, the day the event was to take place, over reports there would be people protesting both the councilwoman’s invitation to speak at the Catholic school, and protesting his decision to rescind the invitation.
The school uninvited the Councilwoman, but reportedly never bothered to tell her directly.
“The theme for that Friday morning prayer was going to be a strong black woman. Vernetta Alston is that,” VanHaight said. “But she’s also a politician – and a pro-gay-marriage politician – and that was problematic.”
After defending his decision to parishioners in church, he was applauded.
Father VanHaight says, “I don’t know all the speakers who are coming to the school. I will in the future.” He also says politicians will no longer be invited to speak to students. The Father did not say if the “sin” of homosexuality, or of supporting the rights of marriage for same-sex couples is the only one that would disqualify future speakers. Presumably, he would be forced to also deny those who are divorced ore support divorce, those who eat shellfish, those who have had an abortion, and so on.
Here’s Father VanHaight speaking to his congregation Sunday, via WRAL:
Councilwoman Alston posted a letter saying she respects the First Amendment and thus the school’s decision, but the First Amendment gives her the right to say that the Church “is sending a sad, regressive, and life-altering message to our children.”
Image: Screenshot via YouTube