December 22, 2010; Source: Toronto Sun | The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association is defending its decision to give $1,000 to support a project as part of a national safer schools initiative that establishes clubs “with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirited, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) and heterosexual student membership.”

The project is sponsored by Egale Canada, a leading group in the gay rights movement in Canada. James Ryan, the head of this teacher’s union, representing 45,000 educators, said in answer to criticism that may be partly inside and partly outside the ranks. “I don’t actually see the contradiction . . . OECTA decided to join Egale because both OECTA and Egale are committed to fighting any type of bullying,” Ryan said. “Certainly the Catholic Church is against bullying.”

The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario has so far declined to weigh in.—Ruth McCambridge