Catholic Teacher Faces Dismissal at Catholic School for Quoting St. John Bosco on Islam

John Ritchie
TFP Student Action, Director

Can political correctness get worse than this?

Fact #1: Mark Smythe is a well-liked Catholic teacher at Blessed Trinity Catholic School in Ocala, Florida. He recently used Saint John Bosco's writing on Islam in his 6th grade social studies class.

Fact #2: The leftist Huffington Post found out that Saint John Bosco's writings were critical of Islam and immediately went public, attacking the teacher for sharing it.

Fact #3: The Office of the Superintendent of Catholic Schools -- with the support of the Human Resources Department of the Diocese of Orlando -- has reportedly not only reprimanded Mr. Smythe for using Saint John Bosco in class, but also threatened to dismiss him from his job. (The Catholic World Report)

You and I cannot allow true Catholic teaching to be CENSORED at Catholic schools.

Please Click Here to Politely Urge the Catholic Superintendent NOT to fire Mark

For the record, Mark Smythe is known for his loyalty to the Catholic Church.

"I have know Mark for many years," posted Debbie Hoffman Sosnicki. "He does not have a mean bone in his body..." she said. "It is my hope and prayer that Mark will come through this witch hunt and be allowed to continue teaching at Blessed Trinity, and support his wife and family."

In short:

Mark used a catechetical text by Saint John Bosco, a famous educator. The lesson was simple, true, yet politically incorrect: 'Mohammad was an immoral man who used violence to spread his religion.'

Mark got reported. The leftist media want his scalp.

But Dr. Jacquelyn Flanigan, Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Orlando -- instead of standing by Mark – reportedly sided with the leftist media, and reprimanded him for "disrespect" to Islam. Even more mindboggling: Dr. Flanigan reportedly issued a statement, claiming that Mark's action was “not consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church.” (Huffington Post)

Finally, diocesan officials urged Mark to sign a reprimand notice. He was told to acknowledge his "wrongdoing" or face the consequences: Dismissal. And since Mr. Smythe, in conscience, cannot say he was wrong without reneging his Faith, he refuses to sign the reprimand.

I think you're probably as perplexed as I am:  A Catholic instructor at a Catholic school can't quote a Catholic Saint without facing dismissal? What's going on? This is not only troublesome. It is profoundly unjust.

I believe Mark is suffering persecution. But "blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:10).  Thank you for fighting the good fight.

Click here to read another article from LifeSite News on this story

Bloggers Note:  We have watched in horror the stories and pictures of Christians in the Middle East being persecuted and murdered by islamic infidels (yes, they are the true infidels) the last few years.  Now we are seeing 'soft' persecution come to our own backyard; and to have it done by fellow Christians is alarming. 

If we do not stand up for our faith here in the USA, our county will soon face the same type of persecution as our brothers and sisters in the Middle East.   I urge everyone to share this article with all your contacts and please, sign the petition using the link in this article.  

How much longer can we expect Our Lord to hold back his anger? Please take action before it's too late!!! 

 

TFP Student Action is a project of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property. Founded in 1973, the American TFP was formed to resist, in the realm of ideas, the liberal, socialist and communist trends of the times and proudly affirm the positive values of tradition, family and private property. The American TFP was inspired by the work of the Brazilian intellectual and man of action Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. For more information on this organization, please click on this link.