A Catholic school principal in Bucks County, Pennsylvania has apologized for using an image of openly-gay talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for invitations to a graduation dance. She has even requested students to take them back to school so they can be destroyed.
St. Andrew Elementary School principal Nancy Matteo sent an email to parents on Tuesday, calling it “completely wrong” to feature DeGeneres on the invitations, reports Philly.com. Matteo said that DeGeneres “lives her life outside the teachings of the Catholic Church,” although she did not specifically note DeGeneres’ sexual orientation.
DeGeneres hosted the Oscars in 2007, as the first gay entertainer to do so. She hosted the ceremony again in March and Matteo had used a promotional image from this year for the invitation. Matteo said that the Oscar in the image may have “distracted” her, adding that DeGeneres is a “poor role model” for the students.
Matteo also included the Webster’s dictionary definition of a role model and determined it “does not describe her at all. We work so hard to be good role models and then I go and do something stupid!”
Archdiocese spokesman Ken Gavin did say that Matteo apologized after a few parents questioned the photo, notes Fox News.
Matteo did say in the email that students will have to bring the invitations back to have them destroyed. They will then get a new invitation.