Ms. Herbs letter needs to be seen in the context of the email that Judith Burkhardt (posted comment in response to Ms. Herbs letter to the public) says was sent to all the IHM nuns. Ms. Burkhardt says the email informs nuns that IHM leaders support Marians principals decision and gives reasons why and then instructs nuns to be silent on the matter. If anyone can get access to that email and post it here, that will be most helpful to all who are struggling to interpret Ms. Herbs letter to the public. For me, this letter was an acknowledgement that from a PR and perhaps donor support perspective, silence was no longer a strategy that worked to Marians/IHMs/higher church authorities administrators advantage. Thus, noncommittal words were spoken in an effort to defuse and dissipate Webbs supporters and pacify Marian community members who may have articulated concerns. That said, this response still can be utilized as an opportunity to engage in further dialogue and actions with a mind towards persuading Marian to change its decision about Ms. Webb and change the way it is negatively impacting those Marian students who are LGBT and/or who know and/or love anyone who is LGBT and/or any Marian student who wants to attend a just and loving school. My personal opinion is that raising money to help one of the wealthiest entities in the history of the world fund a diversity club and program it most surely will not agree to to fund - and surely not with money raised by its detractors - and could easily fund a thousand times over itself - is an action designed to continue the pressure on the Catholic Church (and its subsidiaries IHM and Marian) as opposed to something that has a chance of being received constructively by those whom it addresses. It is also a way to show solidarity with the students and to encourage them to push for just such a program and club. From that perspective, the strategy makes sense to me. I applaud and encourage and am grateful for all those who have the patience to continue to engage with Ms. Herb and those who are both directing her actions and those whom she directs. Thank you to those who are leading this effort and to Ms. Webb and her wife.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 00:08:57 +0000
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