..  DIOCESE OF NASHVILLE

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICE OF THE MOST REVEREND DAVID R. CHOBY, D.D., J.C.L., BISHOP or NASHVILLE

?wan-N?

September 2, 2016

 

Dear Mr- and Mrs- 

While I was away for a brief vacation this past week, I received several
telephone calls that related your disagreement with Father Ryan High School over
the manner in which the topic of human sexuality is taught to ?eshmen in their
course devoted to theology.

I was and continue to be aware that as a couple, you and two or three other
couples met with Father Gervan Menezes, the school?s chaplain and Miss Sara
Hayes, the Academic Dean, about your concerns. As a result of the meeting,
several changes were made to the materials used for the course. Apparently, the
changes made were not suf?cient in your mind.

The result was two-fold: to take the matter to the court of public opinion
and consideration of sending a petition to the Holy See.

There is not much for me to do to respond to the media in this matter.

Some may present this issue in a fair and balanced way, and others will ?spin? it to
serve other agendas.

Regarding the matter of bringing the issue to the attention of the Holy See,
I welcome the opportunity to be engaged with the new Vatican Dicastery for
Laity, the Family and Life over your concerns. I am personally taking the
initiative to share with Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, the new head of this of?ce, all of
the materials that relate to your observations. As the Church continues to address
the problem of secularity?s impact on human understanding of sexual relations;
perhaps your observations and mine may offer some insight. I have reviewed the
course?s content as offered at Father Ryan High School and am totally comfortable
to share it with the Holy See.

CATHOLIC PASTORAL CENTER. 1800 MCGAVOCK PIKE, Nurmun, TENNESSEE 37214-1402. - 61 5.333.639} FAX 615.292.8411

All of this being said, I want to offer some re?ections:

1. Of central importance to you is your right to be the primary educator of
your son. I wholeheartedly support that right. I believe that every
Catholic parent should be engaged ?om the earliest years of a child?s
life to share the Church?s vision of the meaning and purpose of life in its
relationship to Almighty God and do so in a way that is appropriate to
the age of the child.

Father Ryan High School and all Catholic schools seek to be a partner in
that role of education, but the primary duty rests with you as parents.

You enrolled your son at Father Ryan believing that its environment
provides for an atmosphere which supports the life of faith. I believe
that your judgment in this matter is correct. Thus, in choosing Father
Ryan High School as the place to engage your son in formal education,
you have agreed to observe its legitimate requirements relating to the
ultimate goal of your son receiving a diploma ?om the school.

2. I believe that the theology program does seek to be faithful to the
Church?s teachings. I am convinced that the high school sincerely seeks
to re?ect on the goodness and purpose of human sexuality as found in
the teachings in this area by St. John Paul II.

In light of the recent publication by the Holy See which provides
guidelines for programs of education on human sexuality; we have a
most current instrument to evaluate what has been offered to a positive
effect for over 30 years.

3. As a junior at Father Ryan High School 52 years ago, I had to satisfy
requirements in science to be able to receive a diploma. I did not want
to take physics. I took a course in physiology or human anatomy
instead. In that course, the reproductive organs were shown in color and
in detail; more graphic than the information to which you take
exception.

4. I have had 20 25 members of my own family as students at Father
Ryan in the past ten years. I am with their parents frequently. I have
close friends whose children attended the high school. The parents are
good parents; committed and practicing Catholics. NONE have come to
me to complain.

In closing: I appreciate your concern for your son and the fact that you
want the best for him. I feel the same for my nieces and nephew. Mr. McIntyre
and Mr. Davis have children to whom they are dedicated as strong Catholic
parents. Between them, they have had four sons attend Father Ryan High School.
They are good men, dedicated to provide a strong Catholic education for all
students. They have my support.

I hope the program at Father Ryan High School will be help?il for your
son, but at the same time, I would not want to have his spiritual, academic, and
social formation compromised by the unintended consequences of the public
airing of your dissatisfaction with the program. If the school is not a good ?t for
him, as parents you can certainly exercise the freedom to seek an alternative
education experience.

I am concerned that the notoriety that has been created may put your son in
an awkward position. Students, I am sure, will or have already seen news stories
on television and the internet about all of this. They will undoubtedly make the
connection and conclude who among them is at the heart of this controversy. That
will be unfortunate. Additionally, it cannot be allowed to happen that the current
situation becomes a distraction to the faculty, administration, other students and
their families.

I will be sure to share with you any response that I may receive from the
Holy See on this matter.

Wishing you every blessing, I am

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend David R. Chob
BishOp of Nashville

cc: Very Reverend Dexter S. Brewer, V.G., .V.
Very Reverend David R. Perkin, V.G.
Dr. Therese Williams
Mr. Jim McIntyre
Mr. Paul Davis
Reverend Gervan Menezes
Miss Sara Hayes
Mr. Rick Musacchio
Reverend Mr. Hans Toecker, Chancellor