A number of us bloggers debated via e-mail whether the principal player (no pun intended) this story deserved to have his story further circulated and commented upon. In general, my feeling is that if someone is actively taking and/or supporting anti-gay actions (either via legislation or religious message), they are open game. e.g., Richard Curtis, the recently resigned Washington State GOP cross-dresser or baptist pastors and Catholic priests who demonize gays in the pulpit and then seek out gay sex on the sly. Thus, someone like Catholic High School principal, Paul Schum is less clear cut case. I ultimately decided to do a post because (1) most Catholic Schools do have religious instruction as part of the course of studies, so it is likely that he enforced educational practices that put forward an anti-gay message, teaching self-loathing to his LGBT students, (2) the Catholic Church in many areas is actively working to deny gays equal civil rights (the bishops in Virginia sent out letters to be read at all parishes urging a vote in favor of the Marriage Amendment last November), and (3) the Catholic Church says we gays are are inherently disordered and must suppress who were are. Perhaps it is partly guilt by association to some, but I felt the hypocrisy factor was sufficient to cover the story. Here are highlights from a story on WHAS 11 News (http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/103107whasjnTopPrincipalcited.1c7543fd2.html):
Fishnet stockings, fake women’s breasts and black leather. That is the way Louisville Metro Police say they found a Catholic school principal. That principal of Bethlehem High School in Bardstown, Kentucky is on personal leave after being cited for loitering for prostitution. The allegations are shocking for those at this small Catholic high school.
Police say when they found Dr. Paul Schum in an alley way in Louisville, he was wearing fishnet stockings, plastic women’s’ breasts and black leather. “Honestly I don’t know it seemed like it’s unbelievable you know, not that it happened, but that it was Paul,” says neighbor Kyle Wooten.
The police report says on Tuesday night the principal was found at 22nd and Stone in Louisville—an area police say is known for drug activity and prostitution. The principal has told those from the Bardstown community this is all a misunderstanding and his name will be cleared.
The Archdiocese of Louisville issued the following statement on Wednesday: "The Archdiocese learned today about the allegation against Dr. Paul Schum, principal of Bethlehem High School. Per our policy, Dr. Schum has requested and is taking personal leave from his position as principal of Bethlehem High School pending the outcome of the investigation. Dr. Schum denies the allegation." Dr. Schum is currently on personal leave from Bethlehem High School pending the outcome of the investigation.
A copy of the arrest citation can be seen here: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1101071principal2.html. Maybe he heard about Richard Curtis' outfit and wanted to out do it???
6 comments:
"...teaching self-loathing..."
Number one reason for to post about this guy.
If a kid turns self-loathing inward, it's gonna come out in a big way.
And not usually the way one might have planned.
There are a few things I disagree with. One, I am not a regular visitor to this blog nor will I be. But, Louisville is hardly a red city, it has very liberal politics, and gay people get along fine here.
I had Mr. Schum at a teacher at St. Xavier, which is one of the better Catholic schools in the country. Mr. Schum was a powerlifting coach, and absolutely adored by everybody, including the student body, administration, and faculty. He was one of the funniest teachers I've ever had in my life, and probably the best science teacher I've ever had.
It goes with out saying, that this news is shocking to many people who were students of Mr. Schum. People need to remember he has not been proven guilty of anything, and even if he is guilty, what he chooses to do is his own business.
He will get through all this and it will make him a better person.
Anonymous,
I will admit that my main beef is with the Catholic Church and the posion it continues to throw out against gays to this very day.
Having been raised Catholic and not leaving the Church until age 49 or so, I know only TOO well the extreme harm it and its minions - of which Schum is but one - inflict on countless individuals.
Like it or not, Schum is a facilitator in the dissemination of the Church's poison.
Ratzinger's "intrinsically disordered" perspective, adopted by JPII into the catechism, is repudiated by ALL major Catholic theologians. While it's true that bishops are the overseers of their flock, it is also true that the bishops require their flock's consensus fidelium for teaching authority (magisterium). I daresay, the "intrinsically disordered" mantra has few of the faithful in its pocket. The hierarchy may be full of BULL, but the flock are no longer stupid lambs.
First off, Dr. Schum has never said anything against gay people because we do have a few at our school. He is a great man and has never and will never teach us that we should have a non-tolerance to gays. It all comes down to what you think the Catholic church says and I hate to break it to you, but you're wrong. So it makes me wonder if you even know what really goes on.
Dr. Schum will get through this and will still be the great man I know he is.
Anonymous,
You sound as if you are either a student or a faculty member. I assume religious ed is part of the lesson plan at Bethlehem and that it includes the Church's teachings on sexuality. Thus, like it or not, Mr. Schum is involved in fostering the Church's homophobia and view that gays are inherently disordered. Check my other post on Schum for more on that.
On a different note, believe me I have studied up a great deal on the Catholic Church and I am a former altar boy (10 years), and former 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. I am well aware of the Church's teachings as well as its disgusting hypocrisy over the centuries. The sex abuse scandal (for which no bishops or cardinals have been punished, by the way) of recent years is just the latest chapter.
Post a Comment