A column in the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston that argued against allowing children of gay parents to attend Catholic schools sparked anger in the local gay community and prompted an apology from the newspaper.

The Pilot, which is the official newspaper of that diocese, published the column on June 4 that stated: “The question arises of whether children in the custody of (one cannot say, ”children of") same-sex couples should be admitted to Catholic parochial schools. Surely everyone's first instinct is to say 'yes.' The children are doing nothing wrong, and, if they are taught in Catholic schools, they will be instructed in the truth about marriage and the family.

“However, a careful consideration of how this actually works out suggests, I believe, a different answer, which I propose not theoretically but on the basis of experience. My own son in the first grade in a Boston Archdiocesan parochial school had a classmate who was being raised by his father and another man. From what I observed then, I concluded that the arrangement served neither my son nor the other students in the class.”

The column also included this statement: " ... it seemed a real danger that the boy being raised by the same-sex couple would bring to school something obscene or pornographic, or refer to such things in conversation, as they go along with the same-sex lifestyle, which--as not being related to procreation-- is inherently eroticized and pornographic. He might expose other children to such things, as he might easily have encountered them in his household."

The action prompted some angry criticism, according to The Boston Globe, which reported several responses from pro-gay groups. Among them, Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, a gay Catholics group: “I think this is an absolutely appalling piece. I think it's incredibly irresponsible for a Catholic newspaper to allow such hateful and insupportable claims to be made in their paper.''

The Globe wrote that the Pilot this week issued a statement in response, declaring: ”The tone of the piece was strong, and we apologize if anyone felt offended by it.''