Benet Academy chancellor Abbot Austin Murphy sure is deeply troubled

When it comes to navigating the Catholic Church into the 21st century of moral enlightenment, high ranking church officials keep rowing in the opposite direction.

Benet Academy’s school board quickly reversed their tone deaf decision to withdraw the coaching offer to a superb candidate when they discovered she was gay, after over 4,000 students, alums and parents demanded her hiring. The board cruelly withdrew the job offer without explanation to the candidate or the Benet community.

But just a week later, Benet chancellor Abbot Austin Murphy of St. Procopius Abbey, which founded and helps run the Lisle, IL school, issued a statement saying he was “deeply troubled” the hiring decision raises the question of whether the public lives of Catholic school employees should follow the church's moral teaching. He’s decided to pray for spiritual guidance on how to proceed.

Apparently, Chancellor Murphy hasn’t gotten the message that the vast majority of practicing Catholics; indeed all Americans, have moved on from the dark days of fear and loathing of homosexuality.

He does, however, realize he’s on thin ice with the direction of Catholicism and religion in general stating, "Disagreements about the morality of homosexual acts should not be construed as hate."

It’s not hate that concerns those of us disappointed a high ranking Catholic educator would factor one’s sexuality into the hiring process. It’s simply ignorance of human nature and failure to recognize the mission of any religion should be honor, indeed celebrate diversity rather than use it as litmus test to keep talented people from fulfilling their dreams.

Abbot Austin Murphy should be deeply troubled, not about having a gay person coach his lacrosse girls, but by his own deeply flawed approach to judging those he accepts into his community. Let’s hope his prayers lead him to the enlightenment he has so far avoided.