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Saint Joseph's University alumni Megan Edwards and Katie MacTurk claim the school's alumni association wouldn't accept their submission in a Valentine's Day contest because they are lesbians.
A Valentine’s Day contest by St. Joseph’s University’s Alumni Association to share the stories and photos of some alumni who met on Hawk Hill is finding the small Catholic university in the middle of a controversy that the school is discriminating against some alumni due to sexual orientation.
Megan Edwards and Katie MacTurk say they entered their photo and story about how they met during their senior year at St. Joe’s in hopes that they would earn the most “Likes” by Feb. 14.
They were hoping to win the "How I Met My Hawk Mate" contest and a $100 restaurant gift certificate to a restaurant of their choice.
Read original story on NBCPhiladelphia.com
After four days, Edwards claims she still didn’t see the photo posted to Facebook despite being advised it would be posted within 24 hours of the submission. Since other photos were being posted, Edwards decided to ask the alumni association why her and MacTurk’s photo still wasn’t posted. More days passed before they received a response.
Per Edwards’ post:
After getting called back, we learned that the Alumni Association had “discussed our submission,” and inevitably decided NOT to post our submission because “the Catholic Church does not recognize same-sex marriage.” Despite the ten years we (collectively) studied at Saint Joseph’s, the hundreds of thousands of dollars we’ve paid in tuition dollars over these ten years, and countless hours we have dedicated to SJU, our relationship does not seem to exist in the Alumni Association’s eyes. To them, we are not hawkmates.
Once the couple’s story was shared on Facebook with a request that people let St. Joe's know that they considered this discrimination, the SJU Alumni Facebook page was quickly inundated with dozens of comments of people upset that the association doesn’t allegedly treat all graduates equally.
The attention and support they got overwhelmed the couple, MacTurk told NBC10.
The cause was quickly picked up by LGBT groups. Websites like Jezebel.com and others also shared the young couple’s story.
“I'd be pretty surprised, for instance, if it started hosting gay marriages in its chapel. But an informal contest for alumni is a much lower-pressure event -- and the fact that the SJU alumni association picked dogma over freedom and human rights is a little disappointing,” wrote Anna North on Jezebel.com.
NBC10 has asked both Saint Joe’s and the alumni association to comment. So far no one has replied.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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well i guess if they went to a muslim school they would have just stoned them to death after rejecting their story.or they could have had corrective rape.point is quit whinning it was a jesuit school.now if its graphic enough im sure penthouse would be willing to use it.all ican say is hope everything works out for them and life ain't fair get used to it,
The won't embrace them or their story because there is no molesting of small boys in it.
How I love the "Quit whining for being pickpocketed because you could've been murdered" argument. Sorry, honey, injustice is an injustice is an injustice.
let me guess, the story that the college they would accept was submitted by Jerry Sandusky?
Doesn't matter.You pc pansies.It's a Catholic school,she wouldn't have been ablt to attend if she'd been lezbo up front.She knew it wouldn't go over.Another attempt to brainwash us out of OUR natural feelings of revulsion
If the story would have been about a priest and a youg boys it might not have been posted but would have been very widely read by the Priest
How long have you been a priest JR?
I went to Catholic school for 12 years. I was raised in that denomination although I have since changed for theological reasons. However, I am not a pedophile nor am I GLBT. I guess it doesn't work on everyone even when you pay the tuition.
This kind of thing is why I feel negative about homosexuals. It's a religious institution. The religion rejects homosexuality. But will homosexuals accept that and either choose a different institution or keep their sexual orientation to themselves? No. They insist that everyone must subscribe to their lifestyle values and choices. And yes, it's a choice. They insist otherwise so they can claim discrimination.
I agree completely with your post. THANK YOU!!!! This is all so disturbing to me. I don't see the Catholics out on the corners making or forcing anyone to accept them. Why should anyone else??
First, it's a Catholic School and religious freedom dictates that the university can reject them based on the tenets of that religion.
However, Cassie, your post is illogical. If these two decided to make the attempt to be accepted at a religious university, that's their "cross to bear" so to speak. It doesn't force anything on you. The best way I've heard it described is "nothing doesn't equal something". If you're pushing against a wall (the negative force of religion on homosexuality) and than you stop pushing, does that now mean the wall is pushing you??? No, it means there's no force being passed either way, nothings happening, and nothing doesn't equal something. See, logically, them being out of the closet is not forcing anything on you, it's the force you were exerting on them being ceased.
Furthermore, why do they have to keep their sexual orientation to themselves? You don't. The only thing that's different about them is that you're personally against homosexuality. If you don't like it, don't pay attention, but yet, here you are posting on this article. I personally think a lot of things are disgraceful, like say people who insert themselves and judge other's lives when those other's aren't hurting them in anyway. Does that mean you're comments shouldn't be allowed to be posted?
How, exactly, are either of you being forced to accept anything??? Can you explain? Because, really, you just posted how you AREN'T accepting of it. Wouldn't that alone contradict your point?
Finally, can either of you explain, what if any effect these women's sexuality has in your life?
I never said I was forced to accept anything. I said they insist. That doesn't mean they succeed. The only thing they succeed in doing with most people is annoying them. Think I'm wrong about that? Then why do so many people vote against gay marriage? We don't want it. GET IT?
I'm not the only one who has had about enough of the special interest groups. All this PC BS has destroyed this country.
So when exactly did you choose to be heterosexual? Clearly you have no clue how human sexuality works. You can't "choose to be gay" any more than you can choose to be straight. If you could just choose to be straight, why would so many teens commit suicide instead of simply choosing to be straight? If you grow up in the Catholic church, and realize you are gay, why should you have to abandon your church instead of working to affect change in the misguided position of church dogma? I think these two women are outstanding and courageous.
If interracial marriage were to be put to a vote right now, some states would ban it. You don't put civil rights issues on the ballot. Period.
Cassie,
Last I check this is a republic, which means vote all you want, but it don't mean jack when it comes to civil rights. Which, according to SCOTUS, marriage and privacy are. They've ruled it a civil right 14 times. So vote away, eventually it won't matter, just like it didn't matter in the south during the civil rights movement.
How exactly are they insisting???? Has someone forced you to have a homosexual encounter? If by insisting, you mean refusing to pander to the religious right and hide who they are, well sorry, they don't have to pander to your delicate sensibilities. Furthermore, they should insist on equal protection under the law. I'm sure you would insist on it, if you were being denied it.
Bottomline, dislike it all you want, but you have no ground to stand on. Not doing what you would like them to do isn't "insisting", it's simply living their lives.
If anyone's "insisting" it's you, by insisting they should live in the closet.
Cassie, you are a misguided bigot. I find it hard to believe people still insist on discriminating against homosexuals. This is the 21st century, not the Iron Age.
The Catholic Church has no more right to discriminate against human beings than the KKK does. Everyone is a human. Everyone deserves rights, and bigoted people like you will be seen just like Strom Thurmond and other anti Civil Rights people are now -- backwards, stupid, and reviled.
Homosexuality is found in 20 species of mammals. Homophobia is found in 1. Homophobia is a choice. Homosexuality is not.
you know jon and cassie the church runs that college not these women the last time i checked the bible says any man who lay with man as if he were man and any woman lay with woman as if she were man has committed a mortal sin against me and he or she is committing an adbomination this is gods law not mans or churches law but almighty gods own law he set before you the end is comming near and many are called but few will be chosen to be in my kingdom said he the lord thy god and how his word rings true how dare you two justify homosexuality in a christian school god's gonna punish you and yours for not heeding his words mock my words and see i fear god more than mortal man and his book and words are the true law of the land
I couldn't even read what you wrote because you couldn't even be bothered to put one period or comma in there. Please learn how to type, and then MAYBE we wouldn't judge you on idiotic, bigoted language.
Does it surprise anyone? It's a Catholic school. Stupid to even submit something and expect it to be accepted. But if they made a video of their "activities" I'd watch it. They are both kinda hot. Heck I'd buy em a $100 dinner if they let me watch them make it!
james171 - That's sick, can I come too? ROLMAO!!!
Acceptable 4 me.Count me in.I'll buy GOOD wine
I've said it many times before, and I'm sayin' it again. This is just fine! This is the mechanism by which the Catholic Church is bringing about its own downfall. As long as it keeps refusing to deal in a positive manner with increasing biological and social enlightenment (heh-heh - I know there'll be haters piling on my choice of words there - have at it), it will alienate more and more people, and its membership will drop. This church is eagerly gathering up 'enough rope' without a great need for any other organizations to do anything. Social acceptance of same-sex marriage increases consistently in younger demographics, and they will simply not get involved with organizations that don't reflect those values. Again, this is fine!
The church WILL change.Analogous to a large ship,doesn't turn fast,may take some decades
So, pained1, taking into account your earlier statement above, you're calling the church "pc pansies" - but just SLOWer pc pansies?
It's a damn shame that so many good people have to be ground to bits in the gears of too-slow change.
No, the Church's membership has not and will not drop when it adhere's to it's moral principles. We must love our neighbors, but that does not mean supporting them in doing something we consider wrong. I don't hate the person, but I can decry the act, and support reducing the exposure of others to the wrongful (in our belief) behavior of others.
We do not hate you for being gay - however you hate us for not accepting your sexual choices. I am not going to start/engage in the debate of your choice, but simply to ask if gay is right then how come you cannot perpetuate the species? What positive effects does it have on evolution if that's your belief?
The laws in this country prohibit polygamy, but since there are very few of them (relatively speaking) there's no huge support for legalizing that behavior. It can be viewed as a similar lifestyle choice as same sex partners/marriage. What's the difference?
It turns out the college has as much rights as they do.... hurray !!
My heart goes out to this young couple. I'm sure it is a huge blow that a place where you spent so much of your time, where so many great memories came from rejects this wonderful thing that grew from it hurts deeply. I also wish more people would be more open to the Gay and Lesbian Community.
That being said, I also understand where the church is coming from. When I go home to visit my folks with my significant other even though we are in our 30s and live together we are still required to sleep in seperate rooms. To me, it's old and archaic but it's their house and it's their rules. This is the Catholic churchs' house and so they abide by their rules. It may not be fair but life isn't fair. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. We don't have to like them but they are entitled to them.
It's wonderful that these ladies are getting the media attention so their love story is getting out there to a much broader audience. Hopefully it will cause some change in the catholic church but if it doesn't then as much as we respect the love these women have for each other we must learn to respect the wishes of this Catholic church.
When I started a new job at a Catholic hospital as an RN in the ICU, I was told that all new hires filled out a "welcome" profile page and had their photo taken and it was displayed in the employee hallway in the ICU. I filled it out and turned it in, but no one ever came to take my picture and it was never displayed. I'm well aware that it's because I listed my wife as my spouse. Being gay means things like this happen.... over and over. I'm sorry that they didn't get into the contest, but it's even worse when your employer makes you invisible. That's just life, and it will continue to be life until same sex marriage is legal in all 50 states and recognized by the federal government. Only then will we be equal, and only then will there really be separation of church and state.
Let me get this right. You want to FORCE a religious institution to change its belief system to suit yours. And, your supporters want to claim it's an issue of separation of church and state. Right they are too. Because of separation of church and state, the state has no right to interfere with the beliefs of a religious institution and their right to operate according to them, including refusing to celebrate something they don't think you should be doing. I'd bet they wouldn't celbrate an adulterous or fornicating relationship either and no one should expect them to. Go take your grandstanding showboat somewhere else, like a gay pride parade.