Church tries to indoctrinate youth. Youth pushes back.

The Roman Catholic Church in Minnesota is vigorously fighting to pass an anti-marriage equality amendment.  Fortunately, Catholics in MN are starting to push back.  Here's what happened when the Archdiocese sent representatives to a Catholic High School to meet with seniors (who will be eligible to vote in the fall), to "teach them about marriage". Student Matt Bliss begins the story.

"When it started going downhill when they started talking about single parents and adopted kids. They didn't directly say it, but they implied that kids who are adopted or live with single parents are less than kids with two parents of the opposite sex. They implied that a 'normal' family is the best family." 

"When they finally got to gay marriage, [students] were really upset," said Bliss. "You could look around the room and feel the anger. My friend who is a lesbian started crying, and people were crying in the bathroom." 

Bliss was one of several students who stood up to argue with the representatives from the archdiocese. One girl held up a sign that said, "I love my moms." 

 Student Lydia Hannah continues the tale.

Hannah said students were anxious when they heard about the program and were suspicious because only seniors were required to go. "We put two and two together," said Hannah. "All of us will be able to vote next fall [on the constitutional amendment that limits marriage to same-sex couples]." 

Hannah said the presenters briefly brought up the amendment but backed off when students got angry. 

A priest and a volunteer couple presented the information. When someone asked a question about two men being able to have a quality, committed relationship, the couple compared their love to bestiality, Bliss said. 

"Most people got really upset," said Bliss. "And comments about adopted kids, I found those to be really offensive. There were at least four kids there who are adopted." 

Hannah, who is adopted, said one of the presenters said that adopted kids were "sociologically unstable." She called the comments "hurtful" and comparisons between gay love and bestiality upsetting.  

"My friend said, 'You didn't just compare people to animals, did you?'" said Hannah.

 ....

Asked if he thought the comments of the presenters were appropriate, [the Vice Principal] referred me to the archdiocese.

Am I the only one who finds this breathtakingly horrible?  Adopted kids "sociologically unstable"?  Gay relationships "bestiality"?  Gay children rejected and sobbing?  Way to go, Roman Catholic hierarchy.   You've been reading too many NOMtweets.

Perhaps those kids from single-parent homes, or with same-sex parents, or adopted, or gay, can find a home in the Episcopal church.  Because it appears the Romans don't want them.

Here's how to support equality in MN: