A married couple who donated $1.35million to a Catholic School in Tampa, Florida, is now suing to reclaim the money.
They say the institution, which provided education to their two daughters, has become too “woke” for their liking. One of the daughters has now graduated while the other has been transferred to another school.
Anthony and Barbara Scarpo announced in 2017 that they were donating the money to the Academy of the Holy Names, as part of a scholarship program. The school subsequently renamed its theater the Scarpo Family Theatre.
Last week, the family sued the school, saying it had strayed from Catholic teaching and was therefore in breach of contract, regarding the education it provided.
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The lawsuit, filed in Hillsborough County Circuit Court, claims the school acted fraudulently by appealing for funds from parents while claiming to adhere to Catholic teachings. It specifically criticizes the school’s “zeal to embrace the politically correct ‘woke’ culture currently in vogue … where gender identity, human sexuality, pregnancy termination among other ‘hot button’ issues took center stage.”
It goes on to state the school “indoctrinated its students, requiring that they ‘check their white privilege’ and feel sufficiently guilty merely because of the color of their skin and because their parents could afford their attendance at the academy.”
The lawsuit refers to the school issuing a letter in which it said, “rejecting the racism and hatred reflected in the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor … it is imperative we have conversations that are uncomfortable, learn from them, reconcile and grow.” This led to classes and presentations to discuss the oppression of racial minorities in the US.
The lawsuit says that in this way, the school’s leaders failed to “recognize the harm to their White, non-Diverse students by making them believe that they and their families are personally responsible for the historic harm(s) some members of our society have visited on other members of our society.”
Besides its teachings on racial equity, there was also LGBTQ information.
The lawsuit says, “On a blackboard at the entrance to the school where all ages pass, Defendant Academy explains how to be a good ally to LGBTQ+ individuals but utterly fails to put any part of this explanation into perspective with mainstream Catholicism.”
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Besides wanting to reclaim the $1.35million they pledged, the Scarpos also want their daughter’s tuition fees returned to them (approximately $50,000). They want the money they donated to be given to Catholic charities of their choice.
In an email to Tampa Bay Times, a school spokesperson said they could not comment on pending legal action, other than to call the claims, “false and unsubstantiated.”
They added, “We will continue to pray for all parties involved, and, if necessary, we are prepared to defend ourselves in court.”
A lawyer for the school said it was considering filing a counterclaim against the Scarpos, who as yet have only paid a portion (around $240,000) of the $1.35million they pledged.
Chrisk
Only a bigoted POS would sue a school for teaching love and understanding towards people. People they no doubt look down on from the their privileged neighborhood.
They should laugh these ugly bigots right out of court.
Mack
What do you expect from a couple of right wing bigots. Probably don’t have the money (based on the last sentence) or they want to donate to Donnie’s lawsuit against Facebook and Twitter.
lykeitiz
The last sentence says it all. They have only paid $240,000 of their $1.3M pledge.
Can’t afford your commitment? Hide behind Jesus like all fake Xtians.
radiooutmike
You know the Catholic Church does actually manage to fit in some social justice besides the tax evasion, wealth amassing, baby burying and pedophile priest scandals.
Those nuns who died in Central America 40 years ago, did not get murdered for the their stand on LGBTQ issues.
Fahd
The civil courts are not a venue for settling a parishioner’s gripe with his local parish/school. Whatever happened to the separation of church and state? I think the lawyers for the church will get the case tossed. Meanwhile, the school might want to announce a renaming date for the theater if the rest of the money doesn’t come through.
JohnnyBoy2
Breach of contract? What contract? I smell BS.
Kangol2
WWJD? Not act like these racist, anti-LGBTQ right-wing bigots, that’s for sure!
tjack47
They are dumb as a bag of vinyl hair.
GayEGO
I see that a religion was mentioned, so typical of religious bigots!
Seth
Imagine being upset that a school taught your child to have a conscience.
Oh, we don’t have to imagine, we have religious conservatism.
GrizzleyMichael
Time to get that Bible and cross out of their ass.
bluewindboy
How bad/stupid/over-the-top do you have to be to make the Catholic Church look good?
Cam
Sounds like they can’t really afford what they pledge. Typical lying bigots.
Chrisk
That or their way of controlling the school. Do exactly as we like or no more $. So basically both lying and extorsion.
Doug
I hope they lose the suit. They sound like the epitome of white privileged parents.