Coptic Churches Oppose Equity Measures

They won’t discriminate against you – as long as you're not gay.

Four Coptic churches have threatened to pull out of Toronto’s Catholic School Board over a proposed new equity policy that includes anti-homophobia strategies. Father Jeremiah Attaalla wrote a letter on behalf of congregations threatening to pull Coptic children out of the Catholic School Board if the new Equity and Inclusive Education policy passes in August. “We don’t want teachers talking about God creating Adam and Steve,” he said, stressing that the Coptic Church opposes all education about homosexuality (except, presumably, that which teaches that it’s wrong). With roughly 4,000 Coptic families currently enrolled in the Catholic school system, their withdrawal could cost the board up to $40 million in public funds. Attaalla rebuffed accusations of discrimination, stating, “As Christ said, everyone is welcome to sit at my father’s table. So we don’t discriminate, we just don’t believe in homosexuality.”