The principal of a Catholic elementary school in Pennsylvania apologized after sending out invitations to an Oscars-themed dance with a picture of Ellen DeGeneres, according to Philly.com.
In am email sent to parents on Tuesday, St. Andrew Elementary School Principal Nancy Matteo said she was "completely wrong" to allow the use of DeGeneres, who is openly lesbian, in the invitation because she "lives her life outside the teachings of the Catholic Church."
However, the email never spefically mentions DeGeneres' sexuality.
DeGeneres, an actress, comedian, and host of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," came out in 1997 and married actress Portia de Rossi in 2008.
The school's dance invitation included a picture of DeGeneres holding an Oscar award taken at this year's award show, which she hosted for the second time.
Matteo goes on to say she was "obviously NOT thinking" when she distributed the invites and called DeGeneres a "poor role model."
"A role model, as defined by Webster's Dictionary, is a person who is unusually effective or inspiring in some social role, job, position, etc.," the email says. "This does not describe her at all. We work so hard to be good role models and then I go and do something stupid!"
She also asked for everyone to return the invites so she can "personally destroy them."
"Once again, I am sorry for my lack of forethought. I look forward to receiving the old invitations and distributing new ones," the email said.
Matteo declined to publicly comment on the issue.
A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said Matteo apologized on her own record, according to Philly.com.
