Were parents really as rude at the Jan. 12the meeting as the media said?
Meeting organizers used conflict-management techniques for control. Cathy Nolan, Victim Assistance Coordinator who is on a leave of absence from the Dept. of Health and Human Services [Now there’s a bastion of pro-life sentiment!] gave a long presentation and parents had to submit their questions on cards. This is a common strategy to manage input, limit disagreement, and bring about a desired outcome. Questions can be screened and the “most controversial” omitted. After another long presentation and as time for the meeting’s end drew near, parents grew restless, afraid their questions and concerns would not be addressed. Some demanded to be heard. State Delegate Bob Marshall warned it would be a grave mistake to adjourn the meeting, and it continued several hours longer, but still left many parents dissatisfied. Some expressed anger later about the summary posted on the diocesan website. As one father said, “What planet do they live on?” (The Herald article was more accurate.) Among t
