To Be Fair

In my post entitled "To Hijab or Not To Hijab," I mentioned a school in Kansas that refused to allow a female basketball official call the high school male basketball team's game. The early report I read indicated that the school official said that it was because they do not believe a woman should have authority over males.

I have now found the press release from the school. I shall post it in its entirety and let the school official speak for himself.

Press Release - February 19, 2008

It was falsely alleged and widely reported that the decision of St. Mary’s Academy not to allow a woman referee to officiate at a basketball game was based upon the idea that women can never have authority over men. This alleged reason was neither stated nor is it held by any official of St. Mary’s Academy, as evidenced by the fact that the faculty and staff of St. Mary’s includes many honorable ladies of talent and erudition. Logically, St. Mary’s Academy, a Catholic institution, adheres in spirit and discipline to Divine Law. The Fourth Commandment obliges due honor to father and mother, as well as to all authority.

St. Mary’s Academy follows the directives of the Catholic Church regarding co-education. The Church has always promoted the ideal of forming and educating boys and girls separately during the adolescent years, especially in physical education (Cf. Divini Illius Magistri - Encyclical on the Christian Education of Youth, by Pope Pius XI, 1929 and The Instruction of the Sacred Congregation of Religious on Co-Education, A.A.S., 25 (1958) pp. 99-103). This formation of adolescent boys is best accomplished by male role models, as the formation of girls is best accomplished by women. Hence in boys’ athletic competitions, it is important that the various role models (coaches and referees) be men.

In addition, our school aims to instill in our boys the proper respect for women and girls. Teaching our boys to treat ladies with deference, we cannot place them in an aggressive athletic competition where they are forced to play inhibited by their concern about running into a female referee.

Rev. Fr. Vicente A. Griego
Headmaster, St. Mary’s Academy

Now, nothing that Father Griego wrote actually shows that he does not hold the view attributed to him. All he said was that such a view is not held by me or anyone at the school. There can be many honorable women of talent on the staff, and he could still hold the view attributed to him.

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, though, do you buy the reasons he does give? Is it any better that he does not want a woman providing educational instruction for the "boys" in his school? His authority dates back to 1929 and 1958, not necessarily known for progressive ideas on gender roles. Furthermore, as a referee for a 32 minute high school basketball game - I think HS games are 4-8 minute quarters- I do not know that having a female official actually falls into the realm of role model - proper or not. Lastly, rarely is "running into" the ref any problem in a basketball game.

It might just be me, but I still think his reasons are flawed.