A Florida couple who donated $1.3 million to Academy of the Holy Names Catholic School in Tampa, Florida have decided to rescind their donation. They've also sued for damages and returned tuition after a claim the school was becoming too "woke."
Anthony and Barbara Scarpo, who donated the money in 2017 and subsequently had the school's theater named after them, are now demanding their money back after the Catholic school reportedly taught its students how to be good LGBTQ+ allies.
Academy of the Holy Names is too ‘woke,’ not Catholic enough, lawsuit says https://t.co/caEWgceiJf— Champa Bay Times (@Champa Bay Times) 1625621212.0
@TB_Times They're free to drop their kids out. They're not free to sue over dogma application, sorry. Wealthy peopl… https://t.co/aGomI6NbRC— Kathy lambert (@Kathy lambert) 1625670781.0
@TB_Times Karen wants to speak to the manager.😆😆😆— Richie Newport (@Richie Newport) 1625690851.0
@TB_Times The parents complain that the school is trying to indoctrinate students. Mind you, the sole purpose of a… https://t.co/kBABlCPHec— Tom Calen (@Tom Calen) 1625755716.0
@TB_Times They just don't like certain messages the school was teaching: equality, acceptance, empathy. They much p… https://t.co/TKcXjHfZjG— Tom Calen (@Tom Calen) 1625755737.0
The lawsuit, filed in Hillsborough County Circuit Court, claims the school "acted fraudulently" by masquerading as a Catholic school and asking for money from parents while secretly straying from their Catholic agenda.
The lawsuit directly references "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."
@TB_Times Donating big money to the school your kids attend and getting your name on a building is more ego than philanthropy.— Victoria Van Every is querying (@Victoria Van Every is querying) 1625676387.0
It’s the “confirmation that the parents at my old hs DONATED MONEY in hopes the faculty would continue commit hate… https://t.co/yMKLm6PvkT— c l o u d i (@c l o u d i) 1625709895.0
Jesus was "woke". He accepted everyone, he fed the poor, he gave refuge. https://t.co/DIdcxcZKY2— Catherine Angela Imbriano Hughes (@Catherine Angela Imbriano Hughes) 1625683554.0
I’m sorry but I have to laugh. Catholic values at this school ran so deep, I stopped being Catholic because of how… https://t.co/RSOBes1vfj— Almend Joy™ (@Almend Joy™) 1625682996.0
This is such a chaotic read lmao https://t.co/WJ0IMlpzVH— Carlos 🇪🇨🇻🇦 (@Carlos 🇪🇨🇻🇦) 1625626484.0
The couple also accused the school of "indoctrinat[ing] 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 school issued a letter in response to the lawsuit:
"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."
“With one daughter graduated and the other transferred to a different high school…” lmfaoooo no you’re not getting… https://t.co/zSbbLnn2oW— Carl Zee (USF Season Ticket Holder) (@Carl Zee (USF Season Ticket Holder)) 1625672313.0
They are literally angry that the school is teaching racial justice. You cannot reform racists. I just do not see h… https://t.co/KuBQxreOon— Shea Butter Stallion 🇳🇬🇯🇲 (@Shea Butter Stallion 🇳🇬🇯🇲) 1625670361.0
Wow. Do these people know that they’re living in 2021? https://t.co/eLd8982Rze— Colyha (@Colyha) 1625622323.0
The world's most famous convict, Jesus, was anti-woke, somehow?? Contrast Jesus's treatment of women, as Valid peo… https://t.co/Q9rvrVv3m5— : ) Antryg Revok _ Om Ah Hum! _ ओं आः हूं! ( : (@: ) Antryg Revok _ Om Ah Hum! _ ओं आः हूं! ( :) 1625622009.0
As a former catholic school student this is appalling and embarrassingly. Jesus himself said to love others and thi… https://t.co/RLBBxSgScr— Marybeth (@Marybeth) 1625621834.0
The school added they will "continue to pray for all parties involved, and, if necessary, we are prepared to defend ourselves in court."
Despite having pledged $1.3 million, the Scarpos have produced only about $240,000 of the pledged amount.
The school is considering filing a countersuit.