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Liberal Premier Does Campaign Stop at Catholic High School; Tells Students He Disregards Faith

By John-Henry Westen TORONTO, September 18, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - When it comes to his Catholic faith, it plays no part in his political decisions.  So said Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty in a campaign stop at St. Augustine's Catholic High School, in Markham, Ontario yesterday before 130 students.  "My Catholicism, my private faith, does not determine my position. My responsibility to the public interest does," he said.

The Premier has followed the example of pro-abortion former Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin in using Catholic schools as campaign stops. (see coverage: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05120207.html ) 

Currently, McGuinty found it convenient to use the backdrop of the Catholic school to tout his position against funding for faith-based schools other than the Catholic separate system.

His position even on that score is at odds with the Catholic hierarchy as the Ontario Bishops have recently reaffirmed their support for public funding for faith-based schooling beyond the existing Catholic Separate School System. (see coverage: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/sep/07091104.html )

Canadian Press reports that McGuinty told the Catholic students that "he's gone against his faith in the past, supporting same-sex marriage and a woman's right to access abortion, when he believed it was in the greater public good."

Toronto Sun columnist Christina Blizzard lambasted the politicking at the Catholic school.  "Premier Dalton McGuinty took his battle against funding for faith-based schools to -- you guessed it -- a Catholic school here yesterday," she wrote in her column today.  "And it begs the question: Do you send your kids to school to have them spend the first half hour of their day as props in a political  party broadcast?"

Blizzard also points out that Mr. McGuinty's stand joined with his appearance at the Catholic school may be engendering anti-Catholic sentiment.  "Nothing like rubbing it in the faces of Jews, Muslims, Hindus and other faiths who don't get their kids bused to the faith school of their choice at taxpayer expense," wrote Blizzard.  "It is insulting for people of other faiths to be told their religious schools threaten the social fabric -- but Catholic schools don't."  (See Blizzard's column: http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Blizzard_Christina... )

No response was received from St. Augustine's Principal Ron Crocco for comment on this story. As well, a spokesman for Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins, in whose diocese the school is located, stated the bishop "would not comment at this time".

To respectfully contact:

St. Augustine's High School
Principal Ron Crocco
croccor@ycdsb.edu.on.ca

The Honourable Dalton McGuinty
(416) 325-1941
Email form: https://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/feedback.asp

Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops
10 St. Mary St., Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1P9
Phone: (416) 923-1423 Fax: (416) 923-1509

Toronto Diocese Archbishop Thomas Collins (the school is within the Toronto Archdiocese):

Most Rev. Thomas Collins
Archbishop of Toronto
Catholic Pastoral Centre
1155 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1W2
Telephone: (416) 934-0606, ext. 609; Fax: (416) 934-3452
e-mail: archbishop@archtoronto.org

York Catholic District School Board trustees
http://www.ycdsb.ca/html/ts_representation.html

Dalton McGuinty's home diocese bishop:

Most Rev. Terrence Prendergast, D.D. 
Archbishop of Ottawa 
1247 Kilborn Place 
Ottawa, Ontario K1H 6K9 
Phone: (613) 738-5025 ext. 233 Fax: (613) 738-0130
email:  rparent@ecclesia-ottawa.org 

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