On August 16, 2023, The Denver Post  reported that the Archdiocese of Denver plus two parishes, St. Mary Catholic Parish in Littleton and St. Bernadette Catholic Parish in Lakewood, are “suing the state alleging their First Amendment rights are violated because their desire to exclude LGBTQ parents, staff and kids from Archdiocesan preschools keeps them from participating in Colorado’s new universal preschool program.”

Participants in the programme, which provides 15 hours per week of state-funded preschool per year before kindergarten, must meet Colorado’s non-discrimination requirements. The lawsuit filed against Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, and Dawn Odean, director of Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program, claims that the State’s non-discrimination requirements “directly conflict with St. Mary’s, St. Bernadette’s, and the Archdiocese’s religious beliefs,”

The Denver Post published written guidance last year issued by the Denver Archdiocese to its Catholic schools on the handling of LGBTQ issues, including telling administrators not to enroll or re-enroll transgender or gender non-conforming students and explaining that gay parents should be treated differently than heterosexual couples.

Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila delivers a speech at the Celebrate Life rally and march in front of the Colorado Capitol on Jan. 13, 2019. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Nick Reaves, counsel at Becket, the law firm representing the Archdiocese , claims that : “Colorado is slamming the door on hundreds of parents that need help sending their kids to preschool, all because the schools that are best for their kids reflect their beliefs. We are asking the court to stop Colorado’s campaign against preschoolers and the schools that want to serve them. Families should be free to choose the private school that best meets their needs—whether it is secular or religious.”

Nadine Bridges, Executive Director of One Colorado ,the state’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans and their families, responded to the law suit saying :

“We are disappointed to see the Archdiocese of Denver take this harmful stance  towards LGBTQ+ Coloradans – especially students and their families,” …. “The decision to sue Colorado over the right to exclude LGBTQ+ families from universal preschool goes against the fundamental principles of equity and nondiscrimination. Faith communities, including their spaces for education,  should be a place for love and support. Every child deserves an opportunity to access education–to thrive in a safe and encouraging environment. Denying admission to LGBTQ+ students, and excluding families with LGBTQ+ parents, alienates LGBTQ+ people of Catholic faith. One Colorado firmly opposes any effort to marginalize or discriminate against our community.

It is difficult to imagine how a Catholic Archdiocese can find itself in a position where it is filing a law suit to prevent 3-5 year old children from attending its pre schools. When Samuel Aquila, the architect of the lawsuit seeking to ban the children from Catholic pre school, was appointed as the archbishop for the Archdiocese of Denver on May 29, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. he dedicated his ministry as shepherd of the people of northern Colorado to helping every person experience the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and be moved by that encounter to a lasting commitment to share the Gospel with enthusiasm, creativity and joy. It is nothing short of an outrage for him to seek to ban 3-5 year old children from experiencing the Love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is no commitment from him to share the Gospel with enthusiasm, creativity and joy when he denies these innocent children, many of whom are baptised Catholics, access to a pre school Catholic education . His actions are nothing less than spiritual child abuse .

Jesus said : ” Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. But if a man is a cause of stumbling to one of these little ones who have faith in me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung round his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:v6-7

”Religious freedom is neither authentic nor justified if it includes discrimination against the ‘other’ ” (The Lay Pope )

I have written to Archbishop Aquila to ask him a question. It is a question I believe Jesus would like an answer to . It is a simple question :

” What grave sin have these 3-5 year old children committed that compels you to punish them by banning them from experiencing the Love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

I will let you know if I get an answer .

Peace and Love

The Lay Pope

Manifesto for a Lay Pope. My promise to you; If I am elected Pope I will decree that:

Any member of the clergy , Priest, Bishop , Archbishop or Cardinal who denies a child acces to a Catholic Education will be removed from office.

“I may speak in tongues of men or of angels but if I am without Love I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I may have the gift of prophesy and know every hidden truth; I may have Faith strong enough to move mountains but if I have no Love I am nothing. I may dole out all I possess or even give my body to be burnt but if I have no Love I am none the better. Love is patient; Love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful nor conceited nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offence. Love takes no score of wrongs; does not gloat over others men’s sins but delights in the Truth. There is nothing Love cannot face; there is no limit to its Faith, its Hope and its Endurance.”
1 Corinthians 13: 1-7