PORTLAND, Ore. — More than a month after St. Agatha Catholic School in Southeast Portland rescinded admission for a child with same-sex parents, families continue to withdraw their children, a teacher has resigned, and questions remain about how deeply the controversy has shaken the local Catholic school system.
A Decision Sparks Outrage
The decision was made by Rev. Luan Tran, pastor of St. Agatha parish and school. In a July 24 email, Tran stated plainly:
“This decision was made solely under my pastoral authority and discernment, as pastor of both the parish and the school.”
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In an Aug. 3 church bulletin, Tran further explained that Catholic schools require families “willing to support the goals of Catholic education,” including a home environment that aligns with Church teachings.
To many parents, the message was clear: families with same-sex parents were not welcome.
Families Pull Their Children
Four families who spoke with OPB said they could not remain at a school where they felt leadership had failed to uphold values of respect and inclusion.
Sarah Wilson, who had two children at St. Agatha, described her decision to leave:
“My level of trust and respect with the leadership was just fundamentally undermined. The way the entire situation was handled — with an utter lack of transparency and accountability — left no way forward for us.”
Another parent, Erin McGibbon, said she transferred her daughter soon after Tran’s decision became public. With LGBTQ+ friends and family, she said staying would have been untenable.
“We can’t stand in front of a community that we love and our child loves and somehow say to them, ‘This decision is something we can live with.’”
On the first day of school this fall, Wilson counted at least eight families missing from St. Agatha’s enrollment compared to the previous year.
Teacher Resignation
The controversy also extended to staff. Sam Lloyd, an eighth-grade teacher, resigned after reading initial reports about the rescinded admission.
“The decision itself just goes against my personal values,” Lloyd said. “I don’t see why we should not admit the child of gay parents. I don’t find a strong theological argument for it.”
Transfers to Other Schools
Most departing families considered moving their children to either Holy Family Catholic School or St. Ignatius, seen by many parents as more tolerant environments.
At least three families confirmed transferring to Holy Family. Principal Joe Galati told OPB in an Aug. 27 interview that “three to four” St. Agatha students had enrolled in the previous two weeks, though he declined to provide full enrollment numbers or specifics about LGBTQ-related policies.
Given that OPB spoke with four families — with at least five children — who had already moved to Holy Family, the true number of transfers is likely higher.
Representatives from St. Ignatius also declined to comment.
Silence From School and Archdiocese
St. Agatha Principal Trista Casey and Tran declined interviews, referring questions to the Archdiocese of Portland. Multiple emails to the archdiocese went unanswered.
The silence has only fueled concerns among parents that the decision reflects a broader stance across Catholic schools in Oregon, rather than an isolated parish action.
Financial Fallout
Tuition at St. Agatha ranges between $8,580 and $11,850 per student annually, according to the school’s website. Each family that leaves represents a significant financial hit, particularly for a small K-8 school.
Yet the precise impact remains unclear. St. Agatha has repeatedly declined to share enrollment numbers. When contacted, a front desk employee told OPB the school does not release enrollment data.
Wider Implications for Catholic Education
Archbishop Alexander Sample, who oversees the archdiocese, has in recent years increased his direct involvement in Catholic education across western Oregon. In 2023, he closed the archdiocese’s schools department and dismissed its superintendent, following guidance that required all students to use their names, pronouns, and bathrooms corresponding to their sex assigned at birth.
Parents worry that St. Agatha’s decision is part of a broader shift under Sample’s leadership.
“None of the Catholic schools are immune from that,” Wilson said. “They will all be kind of susceptible.”
Symbols of Protest
Outside St. Agatha, chalk art messages have appeared on sidewalks in recent weeks. One rainbow-colored message reads: “Let love be the loudest sermon.” Another, in the style of Keith Haring, underscores the support many in the community feel for LGBTQ+ families.
To some parents, these visible signs of dissent reflect the deep disconnect between parish leadership and families who had built their lives around the school.
A Divided Community
The controversy at St. Agatha has exposed sharp divisions within Portland’s Catholic community: between those who defend adherence to Church teaching and those who believe inclusivity should be central to Catholic education.
For families who left, the choice was painful but necessary. “We loved the community, but the message was clear,” McGibbon said. “We couldn’t stay.”
As schools and the archdiocese remain largely silent, families are left to make decisions in the dark — weighing their values, their children’s well-being, and the uncertain future of Catholic education in Oregon.
