At the heart of the contention is an 11-year-old prodigious student, Will Muller, who was unceremoniously shown the door when his parents dared to question the school’s shifting policies on issues surrounding homosexuality.
Their Son Was No Longer Welcome
Will’s parents, Hollee and Paul Muller, received the jarring news on July 19: their son was no longer welcome at St. John LaLande.
The school’s reason? The Muller family’s principles did not align with the school’s ethos.
The Mullers aren’t outsiders or recent additions to the school community.
Described as pillars of the school and parish, the family’s commitment runs deep, with Paul and his 15 siblings having previously walked the very corridors that Will does now.
“The Priest Came Rolling In Hot”
The couple also generously gave their time as volunteer basketball and track coaches while hosting a weekly ‘open gym’ for students.
The point of dispute appears to have been the school’s new pastor, Father Sean McCaffery.
As reported, within his first year of tenure, McCaffery initiated a significant overhaul of the school’s resources.
Hollee Muller vividly described his entrance into the school, “The priest came rolling in hot.”
He Removed Anything With a Hint of LGBTQ+
His tenure marked the removal of books from the library that contained any hint of LGBTQ+ themes, including a seemingly innocent book about a polar bear with two mothers.
Rick Riordan’s work, celebrated for its inclusivity, was banished.
A notable casualty was the language app Duolingo, axed for translating the words ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian.’
Further, the widely acknowledged educational resource, CNN 10, was prohibited, with McCaffery’s justification being, “We don’t need the media teaching our kids.”
“Teaching Boys Respect and the Appropriate Treatment of Women”
Hollee Muller didn’t mince her words in expressing her disagreement, emphasizing, “I don’t think being blatantly homophobic is a teaching of the Catholic Church.”
This wasn’t the first time the Mullers felt compelled to voice their concerns.
Hollee had previously taken issue with the school administration when an educator insinuated that girls wearing leggings are seen in a harmful or inappropriate light.
In a letter to the principal, Susan Martin, Hollee suggested a more enlightened approach: teaching boys respect and the appropriate treatment of women rather than making judgments on girls’ attire.
Increasingly Divisive Policies
While the Mullers’ older son, Andrew, had already decided to transition out of the school due to discomfort stemming from these increasingly divisive policies, it was a different story for Will.
The young boy was heartbroken and didn’t want to leave the familiarity and camaraderie of his school. Tears, heartbreak, and a gaping void followed his expulsion.
The school, in their response, argued that the decision was taken “after prayerful consideration,” alleging that the Muller family was no longer in agreement with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Their statement further iterated the clear value divide, leading to the decision to disenroll Will.
Staunch Traditionalism or Evolving Inclusivity?
A disheartened Hollee took to Facebook, expressing her dismay: “Can you imagine that absolute and unconditional love, acceptance, inclusion and celebration of another human can get you punished? Weird, I know.”
This incident sheds light on the broader debate concerning inclusivity, acceptance, and the role of educational institutions in navigating these subjects.
It leaves one to ponder where the balance lies between staunch traditionalism and evolving inclusivity.
The story of Will Muller is not just one of an 11-year-old caught in the crossfire but a reflection of the broader struggles echoing in institutions worldwide.
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The post Catholic School St. John Lalande, Missouri, Expels Prodigy Over Parents’ LGBTQ+ Advocacy: The Shocking Clash Between Faith and Equality!” first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / New Africa. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Daily Mail