Catholic teachers asked to keep SSM views private

One of Sydney’s most prestigious Catholic schools is asking teachers not to share their personal views with students.

Waverley’s Head of College Graham Leddie.

One of Sydney’s most prestigious independent Catholic schools, Waverley College is asking its teachers not to share their personal views on same sex marriage with students.

Unlike some other schools that have engaged in the politicised debate, Waverley’s Head of College Graham Leddie told a staff meeting last month that was one the touchstones of the school was its inclusive community.

Minutes of the meeting show Mr Leddie said some students were asking “fairly direct personal questions as to what staff think’’ about the upcoming plebiscite.

Waverley College, where Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove attended, is a boys school in the Edmund Rice tradition. Earlier this year, Edmund Rice Education Australia released a policy document ensuring their schools have safe and inclusive learning environments for all students, and in particular for same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people.

Mr Leddie stressed to teachers that despite what he or they “may think personally about the vote/topic, I ask you not to share your personal opinions with ­students’’.

Last month, Fairfax reported that while stopping short of advocating a “yes” vote, St Ignatius’ College in Sydney and Xavier College in Melbourne had appealed to Pope Francis’ teachings on love, mercy and non-judgment.

Speaking to staff, Mr Leddie also referenced another report — since refuted by Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart — which claimed doctors, nurses and teachers employed in Catholic institutions could be fired if they married their same-sex partner.

Mr Leddie said staff members at Waverley College were employed on a performance basis only.

Nationwide hiring and firing at Catholic schools is done at the local level and teachers are not asked about their private lives. Teaching staff who apply to work in Catholic schools are expected to teach Catholic values.

Late last year, teachers in NSW and Victorian public schools were warned to play by the rules after they flouted official directives and wore pro-refugee T-shirts to school protesting the federal government’s border protection regime.