The news in the National Post article, “Former Catholic School Student’s Complaints of Homophobia Settled Just Before Human Rights Hearing,” is unsettling. Christopher Karas is the former Catholic high school student who was set to appear before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal Wednesday with allegations of homophobia and discrimination at his alma mater has settled his… Read more »
Canadian Atheist readers may recall Christopher Karas from CFI Canada’s ThinkAgain TV interview or from media and blog coverage of his work to challenge his Catholic School Board over his rights as a student. Christopher has informed me that his court appearances start today. You can learn more about Christopher’s work at his website.
Christopher Karas, “who has filed an application to The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario alleging systematic homophobia by teachers and administrators at the Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Centre-Sud (CSDCCS),” is a brave young man. It takes a lot of courage and determination to challenge his own school and school board, especially since his challenge raises “the issue of… Read more »
Michael Coren, who can explain Why Catholics Are Right, has taken to the pages of the Toronto Sun to explain why “[i]t’s been an extraordinary week for Roman Catholic education in Canada.” First he discusses Christopher Karas, who accuses his school, École Secondaire Catholique Sainte-Famille, of “rampant and prolonged homophobic behaviour.” However, Coren being Coren, admits,… Read more »
On March 11, CFI Canada issued the following media release: MEDIA ADVISORY – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Catholic School Board Systematically Breaking the Law, Complaint Alleges Centre for Inquiry (CFI) calls on Ontario government to defund religious schools TORONTO, ONTARIO — (March 11, 2014) – The Mississauga Catholic School Board is systematically denying students their constitutional… Read more »
In 2012, the Government of Ontario passed Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, which prohibits Catholic schools from denying students the right to start GSAs (Gay Straight Alliance student groups). The Think Again! TV video below features an exclusive interview with Christopher Karas, who submitted a guest post to Canadian Atheist on February 12: The passage… Read more »