From Judith Jung re Cardinal Carter Academy.

I have recently read the article regarding Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts in the April edition of Catholic Insight. I believe that it contains several inaccurate statements which will mislead your readers. It also contains several implications and insinuations which are not reflective of responsible journalism.

Mr. Michael Arbour is named as being a "homosexual activist." Mr. Arbour is married with four children, and is not homosexual. Whether he is an "activist" is questionable, and therefore is not a fact, but the opinion of those who do not know him. This should have been stated in order to clarify any misunderstandings.

The religion programme at Cardinal Carter is the same as is taught in all high schools of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. It is not something invented or created by the school. If you have an objection to this programme, you should address the school board, not the school.

Several comments were made about a December 2006 staff meeting at Cardinal Carter. The editor of Catholic Insight was not present at this private staff meeting and neither witnessed anything which occurred nor heard anything said. Therefore, information given to the public by Catholic Insight about this meeting is hearsay. The principal, Angelo Bolotta, was not contacted to verify anything reportedly said, nor, to his knowledge, was anyone else. According to Mr. Bolotta, who was present at the meeting, there was no "coming out" of any five (or half-a-dozen, as you also said) teachers. No one said anything about leading an active homosexual lifestyle and no one has promoted such a lifestyle to his or her students.

I have had five of my seven children attend Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts over the past 16 years. Four of them are daughters who have participated in the music programme over 14 years, and one is currently in grade 12. I am happy to say that my last two children will also join the music programme in September. My older children, who are now adults, tell me that never once, in all those years, has any teacher claimed to be leading a homosexual or lesbian lifestyle or promoted this lifestyle to their students. My children say that, to their knowledge, nothing inappropriate has been taught in music, religion, family studies or other subjects.

Responsible Catholic journalism does not encourage the public to use their imaginations to dwell on the sins of other people--real or fabricated. The tone of your article seems to be one intended to evoke fear or anger. Sadly, then, I no longer trust Catholic Insight as a magazine which reports the truth. It must be viewed, from now on, as something which reports opinions with the view of saying the public to believing those opinions without critical thinking.

I am requesting that a retraction and apology be printed in the next issue of Catholic Insight.

Willowdale, ON

Editor: We stand by our report.