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How unusual, a Catholic minister, an Archbishop no less, likes little boys more than little girls. Apparently so much so that he's banned a little girl from playing football with the boys. Of course, it's all for her own safety...

Philadelphia (CNN) -- Caroline Pla has been playing football since kindergarten, and for the past two years, the 11-year-old has been knocking opposing players on their butts.[..] Her playing time with the Catholic Youth Organization ended after last season when the Archdiocese of Philadelphia enforced its "boys only" policy for football, sidelining the All-Star guard and defensive end.[..]

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Catholic Youth Organization currently designates football as a full-contact sport for boys only. It is important to note that most CYO sports are designated by gender, with some sports offering separate leagues for boys and girls. These measures are taken in an effort to ensure a safe and appropriate playing environment for all participants," Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokesman Kenneth A. Gavin said in a statement.[..]

In a final appeal, Caroline, who also competes on CYO track and basketball teams, wrote to Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput after recently learning he would have the final say after the panel makes their recommendation.

In an e-mail provided to CNN by the Pla family, Chaput told Caroline he was "perplexed" that she wrote to him only after going to the media.

"I admire your love of the game, Caroline, and I'm impressed by your zeal in pursuing the opportunity to play it," he wrote. "At the same time, it's important to understand that pressure is not a good way of showing respect for dedicated people who are simply fulfilling their duty to protect young people in sports."
The chiding seems to ignore that Caroline's parents wrote the archdiocese, to no avail, before taking their daughter's cause public..." (CNN)

Archbishop Chuck is clearly living in the past, which no one can really fault him for because that's precisely where the Catholic Church is. It's not a religion that's appropriate for first-world nations, a fact that's supported by its dwindling support. But that's not really the issue. The real issue is that Chuck is a Schmuck, taking issue with a little girl for not coming to him directly when her parents did multiple times.

Frankly there's no way I'd take a little girl to have a private talk with a Catholic anything, but that's just me.

Still I'm all for Chuck's stance since it will just help drive more and more lackadaisical Catholics away, turned off by the misogynistic attitude and closed-door policies. Caroline can do better than playing for CYO and now she will, if she wants to continue to play. Sucks for her teammates, but in the long run it's just another nail in the Catholic coffin, because you know those kids will grow up with the memory of how a religion chose to interfere with their game.