Battle Lines Drawn: New Catholic school board chair calls HPV vaccines "moral issue”

New Catholic school board chair Mike Del Grande names vaccines and the province's
updated sex ed curriculum as moral "dilemmas" for the faith-based board.

The province’s new sexual education program and HPV vaccines for Grade 8 girls are among the “moral issues” that Toronto’s Catholic school system can expect to grapple with, said Mike Del Grande in his opening speech as board chair.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) voted to allow the HPV vaccines for students in 2007.

Asked whether his comments implied this debate could be reopened, Del Grande said he has no plans to put anything on the board’s agenda.

“What am I going to have for breakfast tomorrow? ... I haven’t got any plans at this point,” he said.

Del Grande, who was originally a TCDSB trustee before sitting on Toronto City Council from 2003 until this year, explained that he mentioned the sex ed program and the vaccines as “examples” of “moral dilemmas” facing the Catholic education system.  (more...)

Battle Lines Drawn: New Catholic school board chair calls HPV vaccines "moral issue”