Halton Catholic trustees confirm donation ban

Groups that disobey church values will not get money from board

BURLINGTON — Halton Catholic school board trustees are standing by a decision to ban board donations to charitable and nonprofit organizations that violate church teachings.

The move means the board will not allow donations to any group that supports — directly or indirectly — abortion, contraception, sterilization, euthanasia or embryonic stem cell research.

“We must not be bystanders to today’s gross violations of human life,” Oakville trustee Helena Karabela said during a recent meeting. “This motion ensures that as a Catholic institution, we will vet our charities and nonprofits to ensure they are compliant with a fundamental tenet of our faith, the sanctity of life in all stages and the fundamental right to life.”

The board had initially decided on the ban on Jan. 16, but trustees reconsidered it last week, overturning it at first. Later in that same meeting, they voted to reinstate it.

Karabela brought the initial motion forward in January.

Halton Hills trustee John Mark Rowe voiced concern about the “nebulous” nature of the word “indirectly” in the motion.

Rowe said constituents he heard from were confused as to how that word would be interpreted.

Student trustee Ingrid Schwecht said students are particularly concerned about schools having to abandon charities and nonprofits that provide a sense of community and with which schools have deep-rooted traditions.

There were suggestions that a letter from the board accompany donations to ensure funds raised would not end up in the hands of a subsidiary group that supported abortion.

Burlington trustee Susan Trites said the reality is that once the money is given, it would be impossible to control where it ends up.

The ban fills a void in the moral criteria of the board’s guidelines and is needed for fundraising and financial transparency, said Karabela, who introduced the original motion in January.

“To fund pro-abortion groups with donations gathered via the Catholic school system undermines the church and the school system,” said Oakville trustee Anthony Danko. “This is such a major violation of our principles, it boggles the mind we never had a policy before today.”

The fallout from some students was immediate.

“Our school celebrates our ability to help others and has taken pride through participating in initiatives such as WE and Relay for Life, making a significant difference,” said Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School student representative Ashwini Selvakumaran.

“I do not believe the board has reasonable grounds to impose this regulation upon our schools. We have always been taught to serve others; aiding others when they are struggling is a fundamental aspect of our Catholic values.”

Selvakumaran has partnered with other students to gather signatures on a petition and to discuss a plan of action.