Letters to Rome, Copies to Cardinal Law

Spring 1991

My growing realization that classroom sex education extended far beyond the Archdiocese of Boston, prompted me to write to Rome. Besides, I wanted Cardinal Law to know that someone was looking over his shoulder. Cardinal Law wrote “appreciative letters” to me about sex-ed, in the light of my continued persistence to him and to Rome. However, when I asked him specifically to instruct Mrs. Mahoney (contributing author of the Belmont, MA Sex-ed program and Catholic Chairman of the Parish Council), Cardinal Law did nothing, not even answer my request directly. He passed the buck to Monsignor Murphy.

Mrs. Alice Grayson
33 Audubon Lane
Belmont, MA 02178 U.S.A.

March 18, 1991

Edouard Cardinal Gagnon, P.S.S.
Presidente, Del Pontificio Consiglic per la Famiglia
via di Porta Angelica 31
00193 Roma, Italy

Your Eminence:

I am enclosing material I developed in conjunction with an effort to remove public sex education from my son’s sixth grade curriculum. Other parents facing the same problems might find my papers useful, so if you wish to Xerox them or present them, you may. With time so precious, it saves re-inventing the wheel!

I would also comment that the United States bishops, in their enforcement of universal graded public sex education, are doing so in direct contradiction to the constant teachings of our church on this subject. Mrs. Randy Engel, in conjunction with her masterful book,” Sex Education – The Final Plague” has suggested that Pope John Paul II once again speak firmly and truthfully on this subject in response to the contusion and harm caused by the American bishops and the several “Catholic” programs circulating in American dioceses. I join her and many other abandoned parents in her plea that Pope John Paul II, following in the tradition of his predecessors, the Council Trent, Pope Pius X Pope Pius XII, Pope Paul VI and Vatican II, condemn, as intricately evil classroom sex education based as it is on false philosophies of naturalism, modernism, and imperialism.

Most good Catholic parents don’t know that classroom sex education is inherently wrong because it makes open and public what’s private and sacred – thus – shrouded in mystery. Sex education becomes sex misinformation. It causes spiritual damage, sometimes irreparable, to those youths who are exposed. With regard to my two younger boys, ages 12 and 15, I have fought three separate spiritually damaging Sex education programs- one in a Catholic high school based on Nancy Hennessy Cooney’s book Understanding Sex and Sexuality (critique enclosed), one in the public schools of Massachusetts, and one in a private independent school.

Please write to me and confirm the fact that your pontifical commission is acutely aware of the terrible spiritual assaults families face, and that the church universal, is taking steps to counteract dissolution of its constant teaching tradition by several of the American episcopacy.

Sincerely and with respect,

Alice Ann Grayson

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Mrs. Alice Grayson
33 Audubon Lane
Belmont, MA 02178 U.S.A.

March 18, 1991

Your Holiness,

Upon the outside risk that my letter and papers sent to Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo do not get brought to your attention, I am sending copies direct to you. I am the mother of four children, and it is difficult to describe the anguish I feel observing the wholesale slaughter of innocent children caused by this sex education (conditioning).

I do what I can but I beg you in the name of Mary, Virgin Most Pure, to help. I pray for you every day.

Sincerely and with respect,

Alive Ann Grayson

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Mrs. Alice A. Grayson
33 Audubon Lane
Belmont , Massachusetts 02178

March 22, 1991

Dear Cardinal Law,

Enclosed is a letter sent to Cardinal Gagnon and Cardinal Trujillo. Also – for purposes of clarification – a definition of what I’m objecting to.

With this letter I am asking you to bite the bullet and take all necessary steps to remove classroom sex education (conditioning) from the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Boston, and to launch a campaign for public awareness to fulfill your pastoral responsibilities to parents whose children are victims in public schools.

God gave us a serious and difficult task when He gave to us the care of “the little ones.”

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely and with love,

Alice Ann Grayson

P.S.  Besides the intrinsic evil of sex and conditioning, the principle of subsidiarity with regard to parents’ rights has been grossly trampled upon throughout the Archdiocese. Many parents have not requested sex-ed, and those who have are not free to turn the whole process over to an outside authority.

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CARDINAL’S RESIDENCE
2101 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02135

March 27, 1991

Mrs. Edward D. Grayson
33 Audubon Lane
Belmont, MA 02178

Dear Mrs. Grayson:

Thank you so much for your letter of March 22 with the enclosure of a letter which you have sent to Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo.

I trust that you read the column that I wrote recently in the Pilot which deals in a general way with the topic of your letter. I say in a general way not to minimize its impact, because I believe that what is at issue here is far more pervasive than just the question of sex education, important as is that question in itself.

I can assure you that I feel keenly my pastoral responsibility in this regard. Your own keen interest is a continuing source of encouragement to me.

Asking God to bless you and your family with a blessed Easter, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Archbishop of Boston

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Bernard Cardinal Law

SECRETARIAT OF STATE
FIRST SECTION – GENERAL. AFFAIRS
From The Vatican – April 25, 1991

Dear Mrs. Grayson,

I am directed to acknowledge the letter and enclosures which you sent to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and I would assure you that the contents have been noted.

With good wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours,

Monsignor C. Sepe,
Assessor

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6. 4/10/91 Letter to C. Law

Mrs. Alice A. Grayson
33 Audubon Lane
Belmont, MA 02178

April 10, 1991

Eminence Bernard Cardinal Law
Cardinal’s Residence
2101 Commonwealth Avenue
Brighton, MA 02135

Dear Cardinal Law:

Thank you for your latter of March 27, 1991, commenting on sex education and the general moral decline of the times. You mentioned your keen sense of pastoral responsibility. Enclosed is my most recent letter to Mrs. Mahoney Chairperson of the Belmont School Committee and a Catholic.

A lay person can just do so much. Would you please write to her to reinforce the position I am taking so that the position is not simply ignored because they conclude I am the only one who is interested here. This is an opportunity for you to put some clout behind our Church’s teaching. You speak for the Church; I can only speak what the Church teaches. Thanks for your interest.

Sincerely,

Alice A. Grayson

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Secretary for Community Relations
Archdiocese of Boston
2101 Commonwealth Avenue
Brighton, MA 02135
617-782-2544

May 23, 1991

Mrs. Alice A. Grayson
33 Audubon Lane
Belmont, MA 02178

Dear Alice Ann:

His Eminence, Cardinal Law, received your letter of April 10th.

Be assured that the Cardinal will do everything that he can to be helpful. In the meantime we are working on the subject of sex education and hope that we’ll be able to say something that will reinforce the good work of parents like yourself.

With every best wish, I am

Yours sincerely,

Rev. Monsignor William Murphy
Secretary for Community Relations