Worksheet spurs outrage over portrayal of homosexuals as “perverts.”
Hunterhouse College, a school for girls aged 11 to 18, has had to ban a worksheet from use in their classrooms since it was “accidently” sent home for homework one weekend. The worksheet dealt with a bible verse and sexuality.
Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts or who steal or are greedy or are drunkards or who slander others or are thieves – none of these will possess God’s kingdom.
The above verse from 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 and is followed by three questions: “What do these verses tell us about homosexuals? Who else is included with homosexuals? What hope is there for all these people?”
These questions disturbed the father of one student, who made a complaint to the BBC. He felt the questions didn’t allow for debate, and branded “all homosexuals as perverts.”
Belfast school withdraws religious worksheet that 'almost branded all homosexuals as perverts' http://t.co/xl1DMG62eS
— Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) November 27, 2014
The school has since removed the worksheet, and have reached out to the Rainbow Project to consult on pastoral care issues related to sexuality. Gavin Boyd felt the incident was simply due to a “blind spot” in dealing with sexual orientation in Northern Ireland schools, though he did voice his concerns. He said that it could have a list of adverse effects on students, “if any LGB child was sitting in that class and asked to list a bunch of people to associate with themselves, including drunks and all these licentious people, it’s horrible.”
Peter Lynas, the director of Evangelic Alliance Northern Ireland, felt the questions could have “been worded better,” but that they were fair. He said they “were simply asking questions about the orthodox Christian position.”
The School
Mr. Gibson, the school Principal, told the BBC that the worksheet was for the “introduction to Christian ethics centered on personal and family issues. As part of this, pupils are encouraged to consider a variety of attitudes toward homosexuality.” He further stated that they have a “very strong pastoral care system at the school and deal with issues around sexuality with great sensitivity.”