OCSB Disappoints Parents Again: Fails to Provide Transparency on Free the Children

Concerned Catholic Parents of Ottawa has received the Ottawa Catholic School Board's response to the delegation it brought on January 28th. The response can be read at this link.

The delegation asked the following questions:

1. Does Free the Children teach methods of artificial birth control to any of the people they serve?
2. Does Free the Children teach that condoms prevent STD and HIV transmission to any of the people they serve?
3. Does Free the Children's definition of reproductive rights and/or health, as mentioned in numerous Free the Children documents and online media, include access to artificial birth control?

The questions asked relate directly to Catholic moral teachings and the board's own recently revised policy on partnerships. Despite the relevance of the questions put forward, the board chose not to answer them. Why? We don't know.

The board did tell us (though we didn't ask about these items) the following:

1. "They care about the faith journey of each student"
2. "They strive to live out the new Evangelization by being an example of faith to all"
3. "Their relationship with Free the Children is one of openness and mutual respect"
4. "We (the board and Free the Children) work together to meet the needs of the less fortunate and to spread the Gospel through action"
5. "The communication between us (the OCSB and Free the Children) has been exemplary..."
6. "Free the Children have been open and have taken the concerns that we (the OCSB) have expressed seriously"
7. "the Administration and the Board of Trustees are satisfied with the responses we have received"

It is difficult for parents to grasp why the openness and exemplary communication the board has with Free the Children isn't being replicated with concerned parents. Surely the board's relationship with parents should take precedence over that of an external partner. And yet that doesn't seem to be the case.

On a positive note, the OCSB's response does imply that they now know the answers to the questions asked. We see no reason why the board would want to keep those answers hidden from parents or why they wouldn't want to share the responses Free the Children has provided them.

We will be contacting the board asking for precisely that information. Stay tuned.....