School Teaches Pupils God is GENDER NEUTRAL, Bans Word 'Father' From Prayer
Words 'Lord,' 'Father' and 'Son' banned by Catholic school
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Some Catholic schools in Australia are teaching their pupils that God is 'gender -neutral' while banning words like 'Father,' 'Son' and 'Lord' from prayers.
The elite Catholic schools in Brisbane made the controversial move to use teach students to use non-offensive 'inclusive language' when praying or referring to God.
The top schools who are leading the push for the controversial measure include Loreto College, Stuartholme, All Hallows, and Stuartholme School.
Stuartholme School, located in Brisbane's inner-city, are being taught to use words like 'Godself' instead of 'himself.'
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A Spokeswoman told The Sunday Mail:
"As we believe God is neither male or female, Stuartholme tries to use gender-neutral terms in prayers … so that our community deepens their understanding of who God is for them, how God reveals Godself through creation, our relationships with others, and the person of Jesus."
Loreto College in Coorparoo has also removed the word 'Lord' from their prayers as it is a 'male term.'
The school's principal Kim Wickham insists that prayers were written for use by pupils did not assign God a gender.
Ms. Wickham added the school is committed to using gender-inclusive language but said some language is appropriate in terms of remaining inclusive.
St Rita's College Clayfield uses gender-neutral terms, but when practicing traditional prayers, it uses gendered language.
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Assistant principal Richard Rogusz said that context aides in helping pupils decide with language are appropriate.
The Catholic Office for the Participation of Women director Andrea Dean said that she was 'thrilled' and it was 'terrific' schools were moving towards inclusive language.
Although the Queensland Catholic Education Commission doesn't present guidelines on appropriate language, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said schools should use gender-neutral terms where applicable.
St Joseph's College, Brisbane's top Catholic boys' school has even replaced the term 'brothers' with 'sisters and brothers' and 'brotherhood' with 'international community.'
'This has been an area of growth for us in recent times,' a spokesman told Sunday Times.
'We have made changes to a number of prayers to be more gender-inclusive.'
Earlier this year, a top British all-female school announced it has banned the use of the word "girl" over fears would "offend" transgender students.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls in Manchester said the word "girl" would no longer be part of its staff’s vocabulary, insisting it's too offensive as it could "misgender" any trans pupils.
This story was sourced from the Daily Mail
