Catholic students at public school called out

[Lost_Sheep]

I have not been able to independently confirm this, but this past weekend our priest told us about this in his homily.

It seems that at a recent student assembly at one of the local public schools, the school’s security officer asked all the Catholic students to raise their hand; most of them did.

In front of the rest of the student body, the Catholic students were told that if any student is caught with a rosary in their possession, it would be confiscated and the student would face disciplinary action. Why? Because some of the Hispanic students often wore rosaries around their necks like a necklace and apparently this is considered a gang symbol which is banned by school policy. Further, this did not just apply to Hispanic students displaying a rosary, but also applied to non-Hispanic students who might carry a rosary in their pocket or purse. So in theory, a white, honor student could be busted for belonging to a gang.

Further, and this is the real shocker, the Catholic students were told that if they received the Eucharist in the form of the blood of Christ (i.e., wine) they would be in violation of the school’s zero-tolerance policy against alcohol.

Ironically, this took place at “Freedom Middle School.”

Thoughts?

 

[captainrick]

I’d like to say I don’t believe it, but nothing shocks me any more…

 

[Loving_disciple]

This is a clear violation of the first admendment, also it is racist towards white people. This is an unjust rule that should be protested.

 

[maryjk]

Further, and this is the real shocker, the Catholic students were told that if they received the Eucharist in the form of the blood of Christ (i.e., wine) they would be in violation of the school’s zero-tolerance policy against alcohol.

Ironically, this took place at “Freedom Middle School.”

Thoughts?

Any principal worth his weight in salt would know better. Not to mention many Protestant churches also have communion wine. So calling out the Catholics would have been silly.

Maybe your pastor was not telling a true story, but saying what “could happen?”

A Bing search bring up three links. One here and two that do not link to a story such as this.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Ok, so we are hearing this story like 4th hand, so its impossible to pass judgement.

However, legally, the communion thing would not stand up. Either that isn’t true or the principal was trying to go on a crazy zero tolerance power trip, which isn’t unheard of.

The rosary thing would only hold up if the school could demonstrate that they had a problem with gangs and that rosaries were a known symbol. And then yes, of course that policy would apply to all races! It would have to legally and morally! (If nothing else, there’s actually no legal definition of Hispanic). Are you seriously advocating for special bans and privileges on religious expression based on race? What happens when the good, all American Latino kid is told he can’t have a rosary because he’s the same color as “bad” people, but it’s ok for whites?

 

[PietroPaolo]

Wouldn’t surprise me at all in these latter days.

 

[DaveBj]

Wouldn’t surprise me at all in these latter days.

Wouldn’t surprise me either, but I need a lot more evidence that this before I’m going to get my own knickers in a knot.

 

[CB_Catholic]

In a Google search I did, there were a number of articles about schools banning wearing the Rosary because of the gang-related symbol, but the closest I came to a Freedom Middle School was a Fremont Middle School article:

ketv.com/Fremont-Girl-Banned-From-Wearing-Rosary-At-School/10134418

In some of the other articles, however, it appears that even the ACLU and judges see this as a violation of First Amendment Rights and judges have ruled that way in lawsuits.

aclu.org/aclu-defense-religious-practice-and-expression-public-schools

The above article also shows where the ACLU defended the right for students to take Communion wine. You have to do a bit of scrolling.

And, from the National Catholic Register:

ncregister.com/daily-news/rosary-ban-in-colorado-school-sparks-controversy/

It appears as if the banning of such religious expressions in schools has largely been seen as unconstitutional in the searches I did (not all are listed above).

 

[acacia12]

Ok, so we are hearing this story like 4th hand, so its impossible to pass judgement.

However, legally, the communion thing would not stand up. Either that isn’t true or the principal was trying to go on a crazy zero tolerance power trip, which isn’t unheard of.

The rosary thing would only hold up if the school could demonstrate that they had a problem with gangs and that rosaries were a known symbol. And then yes, of course that policy would apply to all races! It would have to legally and morally! (If nothing else, there’s actually no legal definition of Hispanic). Are you seriously advocating for special bans and privileges on religious expression based on race? What happens when the good, all American Latino kid is told he can’t have a rosary because he’s the same color as “bad” people, but it’s ok for whites?

This ^^^

 

[Lost_Sheep]

My wife has a teacher friend at this school. She’s going to ask her.

 

[Convert2013]

There are a few of these instances out there regarding Rosaries and the excuse to ban them related to alleged “gang” symbols. I searched and only found one that sounds sort of similar from “Fremont” school district in 2011…

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/05/school-tells-girl-wearing-rosary-violates-dress-code/

Schools ban kids from shaving their heads and all sorts of things. My daughter goes to a Catholic school and she’s not allow to wear a Rosary like a necklace and for good reason. Its NOT a necklace! In fact there are no necklaces allowed to be worn at all or bracelets, etc.

I doubt that Catholics would be called out for that in front of the entire school. Especially when they are supposedly targeting “gang affiliation”. Unless of course they are thinking of us Catholics as a “gang”! I hope that IF this is true, that someone can find an article from a legit source.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

There are a few of these instances out there regarding Rosaries and the excuse to ban them related to alleged “gang” symbols. I searched and only found one that sounds sort of similar from “Fremont” school district in 2011…

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/05/school-tells-girl-wearing-rosary-violates-dress-code/

Schools ban kids from shaving their heads and all sorts of things. My daughter goes to a Catholic school and she’s not allow to wear a Rosary like a necklace and for good reason. Its NOT a necklace! In fact there are no necklaces allowed to be worn at all or bracelets, etc.

I doubt that Catholics would be called out for that in front of the entire school. Especially when they are supposedly targeting “gang affiliation”. Unless of course they are thinking of us Catholics as a “gang”! I hope that IF this is true, that someone can find an article from a legit source.

As I said in my original post, this supposedly occurred in a school close to our church, so the priest may have had first-hand knowledge of it. He did not pass on some Internet rumor. And I have no reason to believe he would make up such a thing.

 

[Convert2013]

As I said in my original post, this supposedly occurred in a school close to our church, so the priest may have had first-hand knowledge of it. He did not pass on some Internet rumor. And I have no reason to believe he would make up such a thing.

respectfully, I don’t recall where I stated that the Priest made it up or passed on a rumor! As you yourself stated “…this supposedly occcurred…” What’s the difference between that and my post?

I would hope this supposed incident would have caused parents to respond. Right? Have they? Surely the students would have been upset by it and reported it to their parents. Yet so far there is no evidence of it. As you have stated you can’t find a source for this. Not only that but why would the security officer address the students in that manner? Wouldn’t that be carried out by the Principal?

 

[Cricket2]

Yet another blanket answer to a problem, rather than addressing those who are the real problem. If any group is using any article to identify themselves as a “gang member” I can see the school wanting to ban that article, but that is the wrong approach. And when you have to “punish or restrict” everyone you are really failing to address the real issue which is the need to restrict those who are guilty of the offense or violence.

Then to require anyone to identify themselves as Catholic to accomplish this violates the constitutional freedom of religion we are to have in this country, which does mean that students can receive Communion without fear of prosecution or punishment. Policies like this simply demonstrate how ignorant a lot of our educational leaders and boards really are.

In my day those who were violent and causing trouble got kicked out of school. They were not allowed to return until the next year, if ever. It was up to their parents to secure their further education. This is what we need to do again. I am tired of seeing whole schools disciplines and restricted for a handful of trouble makers and (yes I am going to say it) bullies and idiots.

 

[DanielJT]

This is not about race!

If this is true, please be more careful about how you address race! The fact is an Hispanic student can be an honor student just as easily as a white student.

This is not racist against whites! That is an absurd and misplaced accusation in this situation.

I agree, if this is true, that it was handled poorly, but it is not about letting the “white” kids have their rosaries while we try to handle the Hispanic kids. This is about a religious symbol and maintaining its dignity in a culture that would rather get rid of all symbols of religious significance.

PLEASE be more careful about the way you view confrontation.

 

[thequietsinger]

Any principal worth his weight in salt would know better. Not to mention many Protestant churches also have communion wine. So calling out the Catholics would have been silly.

Maybe your pastor was not telling a true story, but saying what “could happen?”

A Bing search bring up three links. One here and two that do not link to a story such as this.

I agree with you, especially on the first part. The Orthodox have communion wine, as well, and some Orthodox (besides myself) do pray the Rosary, as well, because it is so calming and so wonderful to pray. So, why didn’t they ask if there were any Orthodox out there? It seems they are calling out Catholics for some reason, and if I were you I’d talk to your pastor about it next time you see him, because something doesn’t add up with his story.

 

[KrazyKat]

Think verification is necessary here. Security Guard addressing this?

 

[losh14]

It seems that at a recent student assembly at one of the local public schools, the school’s security officer asked all the Catholic students to raise their hand; most of them did.

Good for the students saying publicly they are Catholic.

In front of the rest of the student body, the Catholic students were told that if any student is caught with a rosary in their possession, it would be confiscated and the student would face disciplinary action. Why? Because some of the Hispanic students often wore rosaries around their necks like a necklace and apparently this is considered a gang symbol which is banned by school policy.

Unfortunately, this has happened before - a 6th grade girl was disciplined for wearing her rosary in school (link below is to CNN, with video - I have no idea how a girl like this would be mistaken for a gang-banger):

Further, and this is the real shocker, the Catholic students were told that if they received the Eucharist in the form of the blood of Christ (i.e., wine) they would be in violation of the school’s zero-tolerance policy against alcohol.

I’ve not seen this. Perhaps it happened, perhaps its hearsay, perhaps the pastor was using narration to get people to think.

But if I were called out in an assembly, and told not to do XYZ, I think I’d stay standing and simply say “I’ve my rosary in my pocket. I’ll put it on now so you know me. I also take of the precious Blood, which is the consecrated wine, to obey my Lord’s commandment. Come and get me.”

Relatedly, at my college we did have a bit of a tiff between the dean of the language and literature division and the campus catholic ministry. The Newman Center wasn’t big enough for the Baccaleureate Mass, so the Newman Council petitioned the campus to let us use the largest campus theater to hold it. Our request was approved, but the Dean (in whose building, technically, the theater was located) declined, stating that ours is a dry campus and to allow one group to bring wine - even Communion wine - while telling others, such as fraternities, that they’d be in trouble for bringing liquor was contradictory. He penned a letter to the editor that was fairly incictatory - the Dean was a UCC minister and fondly pointed out that our priest was a recovering alcoholic. I’d like to share a link but none of the campus papers prior to 2002 are online right now. This was ultimately settled with our being allowed to use the theater provided that all wine was accounted for.

 

[Mumbles140]

The rosary thing would only hold up if the school could demonstrate that they had a problem with gangs and that rosaries were a known symbol.

I disagree. Most schools ban hats, beanies, or other items on one’s head, but religious exemptions are made, such as for yarmulkes. If the student demonstrated that the item was used for expressly religious purposes, I believe an exemption would apply.

 

[kozlosap]

This is a clear violation of the first admendment, also it is racist towards white people. This is an unjust rule that should be protested.

Racist against white people???
Aren’t there also Catholics who are not just white or Latino?? Believe it or not, white citizens of the USA certainly are not discriminated against. Rosaries were also considered gang wear in the high school I taught at in Northern California. The students could have a rosary in their purse or pack, but it was against the rules to wear it on school grounds. Sometimes conspiracy theories are just that - theories.