Laurie Higgins, cultural issues writer for the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), says last fall, Benet Academy was embroiled in controversy after hiring a lacrosse coach who is in a same-sex marriage. Because of that, the Benedictine monks of St. Procopius Abbey, who financially supported Benet, decided to sever their ties to the school.
"There should be no leader in any school -- Catholic or Protestant or Eastern Orthodox -- there should never be a leader who is involved in homosexuality, in affirming homosexuality," Higgins contends.
WGNTV in Chicago, where the school is located, reports the monks attempted to sidestep the controversy by stating they no longer have the resources to support Benet. Regardless, Higgins says they did the right thing.
"The school has just said, 'Well, we're still going to remain Catholic. We'll just try to find some other Catholic organization to support us,' which means if another Catholic organization would do that, it's not Catholic," the writer reasons.
According to WGN, the school is working with the Diocese of Joliet, the Benedictine congregation, and others to transition to a new sponsorship.
