Sac-Bee: Loretto High bans family for its 'attacks'

The Sacramento Bee ran an article today on Loretto High School’s expulsion of pro-life blogger, Katelyn Sills. The article runs about 700 words and most of it is rehash for those who have been following the story, so I will only quote what I deem to be new or relevant info. You can read the article in its entirety HERE (subscription required).

Sister Helen Timothy said that she would not comment beyond the statement which was distributed among the students, which read in part, “The family continued to meddle in the administrative affairs of Loretto High School by making demands and threats that created an atmosphere contrary to the mission of Loretto. The malicious language, taunts, threats, abuse towards members of our school community, gossip, rumors, unkind language and behavior continue.”

The Sillses, who live on an organic farm off Highway 99, decried the accusations as "false and defamatory."

"Our family has at all times acted respectfully in attempting to resolve a difficult situation," the family wrote in a statement e-mailed to The Bee. "It is unfortunate that the administration has chosen to respond with falsehoods and vindictive spite."

Catholic schools Superintendent Dom Puglisi declined to comment, saying all inquiries would be handled by the office of Bishop William K. Weigand.

The Rev. Charles McDermott, vicar episcopal for theological affairs for the Diocese of Sacramento and the bishop's spokesman, said Weigand played no role in the action against the Sills family.

I doubted very much that the bishop played any role. I would imagine he didn’t even know Katelyn was suspended until the uproar. However, it looks like he may be unable to do anything regarding Katelyn’s status with LHS, which I am of the opinion reconciliation is beyond hope.

While Loretto operates independently of the diocese, it still falls under the bishop's authority on issues of morality. And it was Weigand - in a letter to Timothy dated Oct. 5 - who called for Loretto administrators "to dismiss Ms. Bain with all deliberate speed."

"The first matter was about the doctrine of the church," McDermott said in an interview Tuesday. "This is about internal discipline. It's inappropriate for the bishop to get involved."

McDermott said the Sillses would have to seek any recourse through the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the body that oversees Loretto and affiliated schools.

Let’s face it; the IBVMs are the same order who gave a home to Sister Jeanine Gramick, the nun who was censured by then Cardinal Ratzinger. I would doubt that doctrinal fidelity ranks very high with them.

The stir at Loretto, which burst into public view with Bain's firing in mid-October, has stoked discussion on a range of sensitive issues, from abortion and the church to academic freedom and the independence of Catholic schools.

Former teachers at Loretto have worried that anti-abortion activists like the Sillses have too much pull within the diocese.

Can you believe what you are reading?

Bain, whose attorney is drafting a wrongful termination lawsuit, said she would not comment on Loretto's decision to expel the family. But she said: "It's a shame the school is being hurt by this when they didn't go looking for trouble in the first place. It's a wonderful school."

Of course, many of us would argue that the hiring of a person who assists in the destruction of innocent life is inviting trouble. Let’s be thankful (or hopeful) that Ms. Bains didn’t have the opportunity to be a thoughtful and helpful teacher and assist a student who was in a time of crisis.

Letter from Bishop Wiegand on Ms. Bains' dismissal.