The Catholic Church Joins the War on Religion

The Texas Catholic Conference thinks the the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) has been discriminatory and unfair in it's treatment of Jewish and Muslim schools. The education director of the organization that governs Texas Catholic schools, Margaret McGettrick, told the Houston Chronicle that TAPPS' treatment of those groups was "unacceptable". McGettrick also threatened to pull her 43 schools out of TAPPS if they don't change their ways. So, as the Catholic Church has reminded us for the last 2,000 years, they hold the moral high ground for the entire planet. I'm not sure how much research Mother Teresa McGettrick has done regarding the recent incidences, that the left wing Houston Chronicle has decided are front page material; but I've done quite a bit. The story, as reported by esteemed journalist Angel Verdejo, who the Chronicle recently stole away from a local paper in Killeen, TX; describes how TAPPS attempted to deprive the Jewish players of Beren Academy of a chance to compete for the state basketball championship. TAPPS, evidently due to antisemitism, was unwilling to reschedule their final four tournament in Fort Worth, in order to work around the Jewish Sabbath. Faced with a lawsuit, a court order, and under pressure from the media and state senators Dan Patrick and Rodney Ellis, TAPPS gave in and rescheduled the tournament. A few days later, Verdejo, the future Chris Matthews, had another breaking story about how TAPPS had denied membership to the Muslim Iman Academy; again on the basis of religious discrimination. Mr Verdejo says in  his story that Beren was "initially forced to forfeit it's spot" in the playoffs. It's time to acquaint Mr. Verdejo with a couple of things that are apparently foreign to him; facts and a dictionary. At no time was Beren Academy "forced" to forfeit their playoff spot. They were never even asked by TAPPS, nor was it suggested, that they forfeit. Beren, initially, chose to forfeit because the game times conflicted with their religious faith; by the way, I think that type of conviction to one's faith is admirable. Beren, after qualifying for the championship tournament, made a request to TAPPS, that the game times be rescheduled. This request was subsequently denied. So, what's the big deal? Why was TAPPS so anxious to deny these high school boys a chance to compete for a championship? The following explanation is taken from a statement posted on the TAPPS website:  
"TAPPS is an association of private and/or parochial schools in the state of Texas.
Membership in the association is voluntary and schools desiring membership must make the first contact in order to apply.
When TAPPS was organized in the late 1970's, the member schools at that time all recognized Sunday as the day of worship. The By-Laws were written to state that “TAPPS would not schedule any competition or activities on Sunday”. At that time,
there were no member schools that observed their Sabbath on Saturday.
During the early days of TAPPS, state semi-finals and finals for team sports were scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays. Occasionally, due to the sites available, some games were also scheduled on Thursdays. Every effort was made to schedule finals
on Saturday, since many parents did not work on Saturday and could attend their children’s games.
The TAPPS Executive Board, which is the final authority of the association, continues to follow the Constitution and By-Laws.
The final stage of the application process for any prospective member school is for the head administrator and others of his choosing, to meet with the TAPPS Executive Board
to discuss the school’s application and commitment to the association.
The Robert M. Beren Academy, represented by the athletic director, met with the TAPPS Board on June 12, 2009 to discuss their membership. At that time, the Board pointed out that TAPPS schedules its team sports championship on Fridays and Saturdays,
which would conflict with Beren’s observation of their Sabbath. The Board pointed out that the posted schedule for the state tournament would be followed and no changes made,
unless weather related or similar conditions existed.
The Athletic Director stated that he understood and did not see that as a problem, since he just wanted their players to have an opportunity to play in a “district”.
Section 138.C.3.e, “At the time of district certification, the district president shall certify all schools that will participate in the playoffs. Upon qualifying for the playoffs, schools must notify the TAPPS office in writing if their team will not participate in all
playoff games in which they qualify as scheduled by TAPPS. If for any reason, the team cannot follow the schedule as provided by TAPPS the school shall remove itself from the playoffs
without penalty so that the next highest ranked team may represent the district in the playoffs”.
When Berens Academy qualified for the playoffs this year, they did not remove themselves from the playoffs, as described in Section 138.C.3.e, but instead played and won their bi-district, area and regional games. On Friday, February 24, 2012, the TAPPS office received an appeal from Beren Academy,
asking that some game times be changed at the State Basketball Tournament on Friday March 2, and Saturday March 3, 2012 in order for the school’s students, staff and fans to observe their
Sabbath. The appeal was forwarded to the TAPPS Executive Board for a decision. The appeal arrived at the TAPPS office at 3:13 pm on Friday February 24, and due to the timing, a majority of the Board responses were not received until Monday morning, February 27. The Board denied the appeal and the administration at Beren Academy was so informed by phone and email."


So, the administration of Beren Academy applied for membership to an organization that they knew scheduled some of it's playoff games on days that conflicted with their religious beliefs. They applied to an organization that was founded around and consisted of a vast majority of members of a different faith. Beren was well aware that the TAPPS constitution and bylaws had been in effect for over 30 years. TAPPS officials were well aware of the potential conflicts due to the differing beliefs and specifically addressed the issue with Beren's representatives. Yet, knowing of the potential future conflicts, TAPPS officials made the decision to grant Beren membership, and Beren agreed to comply with the long established procedures because, as their athletic director said, it would give his player "a chance to compete in a district". TAPPS was upfront about their beliefs and their practices; they honored their agreements with Beren and their other members, yet they've been portrayed in the media, and by members of the Catholic Church as noninclusive, intolerant, and bigoted. The administration of Beren Academy did NOT honor their words or agreements. When faced with the decision to violate their religious beliefs or forfeit their playoff spot, they took legal action to force TAPPS and it's other members to change their rules and schedules. They were complicit with the media in denouncing the organization that had accepted them, despite differing beliefs and potential scheduling conflicts. I've been to the TAPPS basketball championship 3 times, as my kids attend another member school. The semifinal games were held on Friday night, which allowed us to leave Houston about noon and arrive in Fort Worth by game time. You don't have a lot of time to make travel plans because you don't know you're in until the week before. The 3 championship games, that I attended were held around noon on Saturday. So, allowing for the post game ceremony, pictures, etc..., players and their families can leave to return home at around 2:00-3:00 in the afternoon. If you're going to Houston, that puts you home about 7:00 p.m. Saturday night. Moving the games to Friday afternoon and Saturday night "forces" faculties and families to leave either Thursday night or very early Friday, and return home either very late Saturday night or spend an extra night and return home on Sunday, which is of course the Christian and Catholic day of worship. TAPPS officials were "forced" on Monday to make a decision on whether or not to "force" the staff and families of 3 other schools to change, what were already last minute travel plans, on just 3 days notice. They made the decision in favor of the members that had honored their agreements and complied with TAPPS bylaws. Both my kids play sports and I love watching them compete. I hate the thought of players that have worked so hard, forfeiting their playoff spot. But, if I enroll my kids in a league that holds it's championship on Christmas Day or Easter Sunday, they won't be playing in those games, and I'm not going to sue to have the league reschedule. As for being noninclusive or intolerant, Margaret McGettrick and the Texas Catholic Conference have a lot of nerve. Can a Baptist, or Lutheran, or non-denominational Christan get married in a Catholic Church? No. What about someone that's been previously married and divorced? No. A same sex couple? Uh, No! Can women become priests or conduct mass? No. How about married men? No. Can a non-Catholic take communion in a Catholic Church? No. Do I have a problem with any of this? No, I don't; these are long held beliefs and their members are entitled to practice as the believe. Should I join a Catholic Church, then file a lawsuit demanding the right to have the priest marry my same sex partner and I? I would think not. The Catholic Church has been in the news lately because they are asking for an exemption from federal law that would require Catholic organizations to provide health insurance to their employees, that would pay for contraceptives and abortions. They believe they should be exempt from this law because providing this coverage would violate their religious beliefs; I agree. Who has taken their side in this battle? The ACLU? No. The Democrat Party? No. The Republican Party? No. The Jewish Anti-Defamation League? No. The allies of the Catholic Church, in the federal government's and the media's war on religion, are Protestant Christians and constitutional conservatives. The allies of the media's war on TAPPS are Beren Academy and the Catholic Church.


Now; Part 2 of the saga. In 2010 Iman Academy, a Muslim private school in Houston, applied for membership in TAPPS. As has been reported continually by Angel Verdejo, the Houston Chronicle, and the national media; Iman received a questionnaire from TAPPS, that contained questions about Islamic beliefs, their potential conflicts with Christian and Jewish beliefs, and Iman's reasons for wanting to join an organization with such differing beliefs. Iman principle Cindy Steffens told the Chronicle that the questionnaire contained " loaded and provocative" questions. Iman also has acknowledged that an accompanying letter from TAPPS stated that they were not that knowledgeable about Islam and could have some misconceptions.  Steffens said she had remained discreet about the incident until the media contacted her. I wonder why the media contacted her? TAPPS does not try to hide the fact that they are an organization of mostly Christian members; in fact, they're proud of it. Is it so outrageous that a private religious organization would ask pointed questions about religious beliefs, scripture, and doctrine; of an applicant of greatly differing faith? Couples that wish to be married in the Catholic Church must go through "marriage preparation" during which, many probing questions are asked, the couple are also required to disclose any previous marriages to the priest. I have no idea what the administration or the members of Iman Academy believe, with regard to Christians or non-Muslims. But, in light of numerous instances of conflict involving Muslims joining Christian or Catholic organizations, I certainly want some pointed questions asked before admitting them to TAPPS. If that makes me a bigot or an Islamaphobe, I'll just have to live with it. Last October, Catholic University in Washington D.C. was sued for violating the human rights of Muslim students, for failing to provide prayer rooms that did not have Catholic symbols such as crosses. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice sued a school district in Berkeley IL, after a Muslim teacher complained that the district had denied her a 3 week leave of absence to perform a religious pilgrimage. The district lost and was forced to find a substitute to cover her class, and pay her $75,000 in lost pay. In October last year, Ohio taxpayers were forced to pay for the installation of foot baths in the Muslim prayer rooms at the University of Toledo, after Muslims students filed a discrimination complaint. I could keep linking to news stories like this for a long time, but I think you get the point. Would Iman Academy seek these types of concessions and accommodations from other member schools that they visited for games and tournaments? I don't know, but it's interesting that the Houston chapter of the Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR), has taken up their cause. CAIR's Ibrahim Hooper asked the Chronicle reporter "Is there no law from discriminating based on faith?" Uh, in faith based organizations, no, there is not; and there certainly isn't in Islamic ruled countries. In July 2009, a federal judge ruled that CAIR had known ties to the terrorist organization Hamas, the FBI has also declared CAIR to be a front group for Hamas. If Iman Academy wants to avoid scrutiny over acts by radical Islamic extremists, they should sever their ties with CAIR. A local website called Arab Voices, advertises upcoming events in the Houston Muslim community. Their calendar contained notices of the "Iman Academy Annual Fundraising Gala" on March 25, 2012, and "Israeli Apartheid Week" March 19-23 which invited guests to "Join us as we stand in solidarity with the Palestinians in their 64 year old struggle against Israel's U.S. backed imposition of apartheid and oppression". This is akin to a Christian or Jewish school advertising on the same page as Nazi's or the Ku Klux Klan. In light of the types of groups that Iman Academy has chosen to associate with, I'm not sure that TAPPS' investigation and questioning were thorough enough. The bottom line is this; parents, whose children are enrolled in TAPPS schools are paying for their children's education in addition to helping fund the public school system through our taxes. We're not asking for help or sympathy, we just want to be left alone. TAPPS has been more inclusive of differing faiths than most religious organizations. The public school system is one of the most religiously intolerant institutions on the planet. The news media is completely intolerant of Christian and Jewish faith. The Catholic Church is tolerant, when it suits them. Islam is totally intolerant of other faiths. This is a smear campaign by the media, the political left, and Muslim extremists. I don't know if Margaret McGettrick and the Catholic Church have been unwittingly co-opted, or if she believes the drivel she spewed to the left wing Houston Chronicle. Either way, they would be wise to open their eyes and remember which people have had their backs. As for anyone else reading this, who agrees in full or in part, remaining silent and allowing this to continue, will NOT make it go away. Those who disagree, keep it to yourself; I couldn't care less!