March 25 Parent Meeting: Scott Castro
Good evening Bishop Justice, Father Reyes, Father Illo, Father Driscoll, Mr. Hanley, esteemed faculty and friends.
My name is Scott Castro, and I am speaking tonight as a representative of the Kindergarten class.
Last year, my wife and I turned to Star of the Sea after a challenging experience in the San Francisco public schools.
We chose Star for the promise of academic excellence coupled with a dedication to community, charity and compassion. While our family is not Catholic, these values transcend any one religion and are a significant reason why we cherish this school.
Indeed, the principal, faculty and staff here are absolutely devoted to nurturing the mind, character and soul of each and every child. This is a gift. And I applaud you all for sharing it so fully.
******
Sadly, this gift has been greatly challenged this year by members of the clergy more intent on espousing a divisive dogma and carrying out a polemic against this community.
*****
Specifically, what Father Illo and Father Driscoll have done is implement a campaign clearly intended to create a chasm in the school.
In a blog posted less than 2 months ago, Father Illo wrote about the "purging" that he envisioned at our dear school. Specifically, he wrote:
"Parish and school are at a turning point. Some will undoubtedly leave the school and some the parish and some will leave the faith … because they cannot bring themselves to trust the Church."
But which Church have we been asked to trust, particularly those of us who are not Catholic, but who have been welcomed into this school to share in – and, indeed, learn from -- Catholic ideals?
Well, the particular "Church" envisioned by Father Illo is one steeped in what I can only characterize as a rhetoric of division and deep-rooted animus against Catholics and non-Catholics alike who do not adhere to his "vision" of the Church.
This rhetoric is distinctly contrary to the teachings of Jesus, and harkens back to the darkest days of Catholicism.
It is clear that Father Illo has been preparing for a personal crusade for some time. Last year, in raising $300,000 for his crusade, Father Illo wrote:
“We need lots of support… as we prepare to enter the beautiful but savagely distorted cultural maelstrom that is the ‘Baghdad by the Bay.'”
He then further detailed in July how he and Father Driscoll would begin their "priestly ministry" in this same city, describing it as a "war zone between the angelic and the demonic…."
Such hateful rhetoric, while regrettable, might be tolerated in a blog. However, the implementation of such rhetoric into action -- particularly against the most vulnerable and impressionable of our population -- cannot be tolerated.
Yet that is precisely what has been done.
*****
For example, in January, Father Driscoll abruptly decreed that he would cease long-standing practice and no longer bless non-Catholic children.
Picture the non-Catholic children sitting segregated in the pews, watching their Catholic, Eucharist-receiving peers receive communion.
Is this really what Jesus taught? The answer is a resounding "NO."
*****
Shortly thereafter, Father Illo and Father Driscoll sought to expunge "non-Catholics" from the School community, this time banning them from reading at the school's Ash Wednesday mass. Thus again, Father Illo and Father Driscoll ceased a long-standing practice of this School and Parrish in a clear effort to divide this community.
*****
And lastly, the action that started all of this: The banning of altar girls. There are others tonight who will speak at length on this action. All I can ask, in this day and age, is what we might expect next?
*****
Father Illo and Father Driscoll have entered into dark waters, polluting the very beauty of this beloved School. These are shameful acts, pure and simple.
The Church should offer all of our children the promise of kindness, inclusion and charity, yet not one of these is reflected in such acts or rhetoric. But these are – and long have been – practiced at this School.
Father Illo was either prescient or prophetic last July when he wrote that he and Father Driscoll expected to "suffer misunderstandings, disappointments, and failures.” Yet these have not been caused by anyone at the school, but by this misguided crusade.
It is for this reason that we ask for their removal. Thank you.
My name is Scott Castro, and I am speaking tonight as a representative of the Kindergarten class.
Last year, my wife and I turned to Star of the Sea after a challenging experience in the San Francisco public schools.
We chose Star for the promise of academic excellence coupled with a dedication to community, charity and compassion. While our family is not Catholic, these values transcend any one religion and are a significant reason why we cherish this school.
Indeed, the principal, faculty and staff here are absolutely devoted to nurturing the mind, character and soul of each and every child. This is a gift. And I applaud you all for sharing it so fully.
******
Sadly, this gift has been greatly challenged this year by members of the clergy more intent on espousing a divisive dogma and carrying out a polemic against this community.
*****
Specifically, what Father Illo and Father Driscoll have done is implement a campaign clearly intended to create a chasm in the school.
In a blog posted less than 2 months ago, Father Illo wrote about the "purging" that he envisioned at our dear school. Specifically, he wrote:
"Parish and school are at a turning point. Some will undoubtedly leave the school and some the parish and some will leave the faith … because they cannot bring themselves to trust the Church."
But which Church have we been asked to trust, particularly those of us who are not Catholic, but who have been welcomed into this school to share in – and, indeed, learn from -- Catholic ideals?
Well, the particular "Church" envisioned by Father Illo is one steeped in what I can only characterize as a rhetoric of division and deep-rooted animus against Catholics and non-Catholics alike who do not adhere to his "vision" of the Church.
This rhetoric is distinctly contrary to the teachings of Jesus, and harkens back to the darkest days of Catholicism.
It is clear that Father Illo has been preparing for a personal crusade for some time. Last year, in raising $300,000 for his crusade, Father Illo wrote:
“We need lots of support… as we prepare to enter the beautiful but savagely distorted cultural maelstrom that is the ‘Baghdad by the Bay.'”
He then further detailed in July how he and Father Driscoll would begin their "priestly ministry" in this same city, describing it as a "war zone between the angelic and the demonic…."
Such hateful rhetoric, while regrettable, might be tolerated in a blog. However, the implementation of such rhetoric into action -- particularly against the most vulnerable and impressionable of our population -- cannot be tolerated.
Yet that is precisely what has been done.
*****
For example, in January, Father Driscoll abruptly decreed that he would cease long-standing practice and no longer bless non-Catholic children.
Picture the non-Catholic children sitting segregated in the pews, watching their Catholic, Eucharist-receiving peers receive communion.
Is this really what Jesus taught? The answer is a resounding "NO."
*****
Shortly thereafter, Father Illo and Father Driscoll sought to expunge "non-Catholics" from the School community, this time banning them from reading at the school's Ash Wednesday mass. Thus again, Father Illo and Father Driscoll ceased a long-standing practice of this School and Parrish in a clear effort to divide this community.
*****
And lastly, the action that started all of this: The banning of altar girls. There are others tonight who will speak at length on this action. All I can ask, in this day and age, is what we might expect next?
*****
Father Illo and Father Driscoll have entered into dark waters, polluting the very beauty of this beloved School. These are shameful acts, pure and simple.
The Church should offer all of our children the promise of kindness, inclusion and charity, yet not one of these is reflected in such acts or rhetoric. But these are – and long have been – practiced at this School.
Father Illo was either prescient or prophetic last July when he wrote that he and Father Driscoll expected to "suffer misunderstandings, disappointments, and failures.” Yet these have not been caused by anyone at the school, but by this misguided crusade.
It is for this reason that we ask for their removal. Thank you.