St Catherine’s, the school at the center of a controversial push by the Anglican diocese of Sydney to force new leaders to declare their opposition to same-sex marriage, has retired a former principal to be his no interim for two years.
The school board told parents that former Abbotsleigh principal Judith Poole will run the school in 2023 and 2024 and, as temporary principal, will not have to sign the affidavit saying the marriage is only between a man and a woman.
It is a victory for parents who have been pressuring the Anglican diocese of Sydney to abandon the requirement for its new director to sign the declaration. St Catherine’s is in Waverley, which voted overwhelmingly in favor of same-sex marriage in the 2017 postal vote.
St Catherine’s has announced a new interim director. Credit: Janie Barrett
In a letter to the school community on Tuesday, board president Danusia Cameron said Poole was “a remarkable educator and a visionary leader.” The letter said Poole was an active Christian. Abbotsleigh is also an Anglican school run by the diocese.
In a separate letter to older girls and alumni, the council acknowledged that the clause had concerned the community and assured them that “St Catherine remains the caring, hospitable, welcoming and genuinely inclusive school we all love so much.”
The Herald spoke with parents who appreciated the decision. One said Poole, who ran Abbotsleigh between 2005 and 2016, had a good reputation and was committed to the love and inclusion for which the school was known.
“It shows the council has listened to the community,” the father said. “It is a good result given the current circumstances. She is a Christian and this was expected. Two years create stability and time and space to work with the diocese on this serious issue.
Poole said he wanted to educate students in a “supportive, positive and aspiring environment.”
“Foundation for my leadership is my commitment to each student’s pastoral care, the professional development of each staff member, and the well-being of the entire school community,” he said.