***July 1985

Communications

Diocese of Cleveland

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NON-RENEWAL FOR ERIEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER'S AIDE

Gay Peoples Chronicle

Citing Church teaching regarding homosexuality, Sr. Christine Vladimiroff, OSB, Bishop's Secretary for Education, has announced that Mr. Robert Navis will not be renewed in his position at Erieview High School for 1985-86. Erieview presently enrolls 400 girls from Cleveland and many suburbs at its downtown location on Superior Avenue, Cleveland.

Sr. Christine has released a statement regarding Mr. Navis and Church teaching on homosexuality; it is printed below in its entirety. Her comments followed a meeting with Navis at the Diocesan School Offices on Friday, June 7, 1985. For more information, contact Mr. Patrick J. DiSalvatore at 696-6525 in Cleveland and 535-1926 in Akron.

Sr. Christine:

Mr. Robert Navis, a teacher's aide at Erieview High School, Cleveland, will not be renewed in his position there for the 1985-86 school term. He has taught choir and music theatre ensemble at Erieview since 1979,

Mr. Navis has publicly espoused a lifestyle that is not in concert with the teaching of the Church and has caused concern in that school community and within the Diocese of Cleveland.

This action, specifically, has not been taken because of Mr. Navis' homosexual orientation but rather because of his espousal of a lifestyle that is not in harmony with the teaching of our Church. It is our judgment that promotion of this lifestyle by a member of our teaching staff is unacceptable and also problematic both for our schools and parents.

Our Church is interested in Mr. Navis as a person and has attempted to be sensitive and pastoral in this situation. We must ensure that those who are involved in the teaching mission of the Church express, support, and model the values and principles that are so important to our message and tradition.

Recognizing that this question is very complex and troublesome for many in the Christian community, we will, however, reflect Church teaching in this matter. Documents of our Church point out that a homosexual orientation is not morally wrong in and of itself. Those who experience this orientation are not to be maligned. Instead they are to be helped through positive and sensitive pastoral care to live lives of true chastity in the power of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the Church teaches that deliberate homosexual desires and acts are immoral.

The Church is interested in the welfare and spiritual growth of all, and thus extends its moral leadership and pastoral care to all persons. We feel, however, that this action is taken in the best interest of Erieview High School and the Diocese of Cleveland and is consistent with our Church's teachings and values.

1985-6-7.

-30-

Mr. Patrick J. DiSalvatore Director, Catholic Communications Center/ 1027 Superior Avenue, No. 600 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Office: (216) 606-6325 Night Line: 696-6205 Direct Line:566-833 Home: 626-536 Page: H00-812-5515/Akron Line: 535-1926

THE OFFICIAL CLEVELAND CATHOLIC DIOCESE STATEMENT

Volleyball Tournament Coming

The Greater Cleveland Volleyball Association will present the North Coast Invitational Volleyball Tournament II over Labor Day weekend. Held from August 30 to September 1, with match play on Saturday and Sunday, this will be the largest gay volleyball sporting event in Ohio's history. The Association expects about 400 participants and volunteers

The first North Coast Invitational in 1983 was a great success, with over 100 participants from 14 teams

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representing 11 cities. Volunteers and hosts are needed to make this event another smashing success. Volunteers are needed for concessions, set-up, registration, transportation, etc. Hosts are needed to provide housing for the outof-town guests. In 1983 the gay community was very supportive. If you are interested in taking part in the Tournament or its preparations, call Mike or Dennis at (216) 226-5362, or Todd at (216) 521-9984.

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Dignity Interview

Do you believe that it's wrong for children to know that their teachers are gay?

P: It never occured to me that any of my teachers might be gay.

Did you consider any of your teachers role models?

P: Yes.

Do you believe there should be openly gay teachers functioning as role models for gay students

P: If If a child teacher and

they

were gay, that would be up to the discretion of that teacher at that time. I don't think you should stand up in front of a classroom of 35 people and say, "I'm gay. I think we need to educate in a quiet way.

Do you think the Diocese made the right choice when it refused to offer Navis a contract?

C: I think the Diocese made the only choice it could.

Can you give the name of any official of the Diocese of Cleveland who stated that Bob Navis was offered a contract but refused to

it?

CA.M.P.A.S.

sign

continued from p. 9

page 11

P: No. We can't quote a name for the press. I can only say that a spokesperson for the Diocese made that statement.

Dignity take any action when Navis lost his St. Francis job?

P: Bob came to a meeting and told us what happened and asked for help.

C: And I think individuals did on an individual basis. P: I don't think that Bob asked for Dignity itself to take a position.

C: In the social justice committee we always talked about it. People offered to go down and speak for him. Would Dignity ever take position in opposition to Diocese policy.

C: I think we try to work with the Diocese. The future is always surrounded by circumstance. We are not for discrimination against anyone for any reason and fortunately, I don't think we have that problem in this Diocese. We are trying to work with the Diocese and they are trying to work with us. I can't think of any situation where we would have to [take a position against the Diocese].

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