Cardinal Law, Please Get Rid of Classroom Sex-Ed.

This article originally appeared in an October-December 1994 publication of Our Lady’s Crusaders for Life. It detailed efforts to remove sex-ed programs from Catholic schools in the Boston Archdiocese. The article focused on two letters to Cardinal Law followed by a reply from the Chancery. We apologize for quoting offensive material, but deem it necessary. Keep in mind that children are hearing this in school everyday. (Cardinal Law, who became a symbol of the Catholic Church’s sex abuse scandal, died in exile and still considered by the Church “in good standing” in December, 2017. Monsignor William Murphy (now Bishop Murphy) continued along the line of promotions and honors, and is still considered a retired bishop in “good standing.) Neither he nor Cardinal Law has made public amends for their neglect of duty to the Catholic children of the Archdiocese of Boston.)

LETTERS TO CARDINAL LAW

How the Letters Began

Mrs. Alice Ann Grayson, President of the Veil of Innocence, has been fighting sex-ed for many years. In 1992 Cardinal Law asked her what she found to be offensive in the sex-ed programs in the Archdiocese. Mrs. Grayson wrote a book, Catholic Classroom Sex Education Is An Oxymoron. The original book, nearly 300 pages in length, detailed the problems in several of the sex-ed programs. Mrs. Grayson’s book was delivered to his Eminence during Lent in 1993. The Cardinal then formed an Ad Hoc Committee to study Mrs. Grayson’s book and subsequently letters were exchanged between Mrs. Grayson and Cardinal Law.

Mrs. Grayson received the reply of the Committee through his Eminence in 1994. No recommendations to remove sex-ed programs came forth. Instead, the Committee stated, “The boundaries for privacy have fallen away.” On May 4, 1994, Mrs. Grayson replied to Cardinal Law and the exchange of letters began. Excerpts from her May 4th letter appear below.

Letter From Mrs. Grayson to Cardinal Law, May 4, 1994:

“What is at issue here is the salvation of souls – those of innocent children, misinformed professionals, and more personally, your very own soul.

By your willingness to follow the advice of the Ad Hoc Committee, you continue to teach children, by using the Benziger `Family Life Program., to re-define the family as a group of people who live together and love one another.(Grade 5 teaching material). Cohabitating couples and practicing homosexuals become family…

You indicated to me, and to the children under your pastoral care, that it is Catholic for one of your accepted authors, Kiernan Sawyer, in Choices and Decisions, to teach the following about so called gender sexuality:

QUESTION (from Choices and Decisions, Directors Manual, 1990)

What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

ANSWER (from Choices and Decisions , Directors Manual, 1990, Page 83)

The Bible clearly condemns homosexual activity. However, modern biblical scholarship suggests that the condemnation is often directed toward homosexual acts by heterosexual persons … They hold that the contemporary questions concerning loving sexual activity between consenting adults in a committed loving relationship was simply not addressed in the scriptures.

Choices and Decisions by Kiernan Sawyer is an excellent sample of values clarification, dissent, and the political agendas of the contraceptors, the abortionists, and the homosexuals.

Or maybe it’s best to call to mind the first sample of erotic stimuli which I submitted to you as far back as 1988 – a sample from Nancy Hennessy Cooney’s book Understanding Sex and Sexuality. Nancy, who signed the Solidarity Ad in the New York Times (March 2, 1986), advocating that abortion could sometimes be a morally valid choice, instructs children that:

“The “Mound of Venus” contains nerve endings that all add to sexual excitement when rubbed or pressed.”

THEN- a friend named Dr. Gerald Benitz’ on August 13, 1994 jumped to the childrens’ defense:

On August 13, Dr. Gerald Benitz hand delivered a letter to Cardinal Law regarding sex-ed. Excerpts are given below:

“I have read the reply from your Ad Hoc Committee and am greatly grieved. Grieved that Mrs. Grayson’s letter detailing the horrid programs has failed to touch you. Grieved that my Archbishop continues to teach his children using video programs which teach:

“Chances are you will not get these diseases if you are not sexually active or have engaged in oral sex, which is genital kissing or climaxing in the mouth.”
(Franciscan Video program, In God’s Image)

I have written your Eminence before regarding sex-ed, and I beg your indulgence to hear me yet one more time … Among the programs are In God’s Image (quoted above), New Creation Series, Benziger Family Life Program, and Teen STAR.”

AND AGAIN-The Chancery Replies, August 24, 1994

On August 24, 1994 Msgr. William Murphy, Vicar General of the Bostohttp://write-to-authorities-heres-how/n Archdiocese, replied to Dr. Benitz’ letter. Excerpts of the Vicar’s letter appear below. Note that Msgr. Murphy’s letter didn’t deny, or even address, the referenced obscene material from In God’s Image quoted above.

“His Eminence … has asked me to reply to you in his name. … As you may know, I have been in conversation with Mrs.Grayson about these things for sometime. The Cardinal and I are both satisfied that the Archdiocese has looked into these issues thoroughly and that we have confidence in what is being taught and the materials that are being used in the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. [emphasis added] “I trust that this will be sufficient for you.”

CONCERNED CATHOLICS MUST ACT

Many of these programs still are in operation throughout the country. Can you in good conscience let sex-ed continue unchallenged? Inform yourself. Learn what they are teaching your child. Write your bishop. Reconsider your donations which help support these programs. Pray the Rosary. Withdraw your child from these type of programs. Click here or see “Wrtie to Authorities. Here’s How” on the bottom of the home page- for help in writing.