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TAquinas
Guest
Dominicans and other Catholic religious orders wear rosaries in a highly visible manner. I don’t think they wear it to identify with any gang.
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maryjk
Guest
Sorry it took so long to answer, this thread got bumped down the page, and I didn’t see it.
No, I am not suggesting that. I am suggesting that gangs have started to use the rosary as identification. That once that happened, I can understand schools not wanting students to wear their rosary.
It is like walking into the “green” gang territory, with “purple” gang colors. It doesn’t matter that you are not part of the “purple” gang. You are still going to have problems. It doesn’t matter to them that for you wearing purple during lent is a way to remind you about Christ.
As a cradle Catholic, I have never worn a rosary. I have never been taught to wear it, I have never taught others to wear it. How hard is it to take it off during school hours and put it in your pocket like most everyone else does?
I just think that they are making a mountain out of a molehill.
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flameburns623
Guest
The stickety-wicket of this whole thing is that in Hispanic cultures, wearing the Rosary is acceptable and often a sign of one’s devotion to Christ. It was, however, largely Hispanic gangs who began the practice of using the Rosary as a symbol of identification.
I would hate to see people precluded from wearing a symbol of their faith–even though, in the English-speaking world, it is usually deemed inappropriate to wear a Rosary as if it were jewelry. In fact, I worry that some of the impetus for punishing this girl for wearing her Rosary may be the militant creeping secularism which would ban all public displays of faith whatever, even displays worn on one’s person or displayed on one’s vehicle.
That said–if the Rosary really is being used by active gangs in this girl’s public school–if the rule isn’t being invoked merely because some anti-religious administrator heard that some gangs somewhere use Rosaries as symbols of self-identification–and if that administrator isn’t doing this merely as a jab at religion generally but is really based on a concern for the girl’s safety and as a way of keeping gang activity under control–IF all of these things can be shown, then perhaps the girl should carry her Rosary in a pouch in her purse and wear some other symbol of her faith publicly.
I would hate to see people precluded from wearing a symbol of their faith–even though, in the English-speaking world, it is usually deemed inappropriate to wear a Rosary as if it were jewelry. In fact, I worry that some of the impetus for punishing this girl for wearing her Rosary may be the militant creeping secularism which would ban all public displays of faith whatever, even displays worn on one’s person or displayed on one’s vehicle.
That said–if the Rosary really is being used by active gangs in this girl’s public school–if the rule isn’t being invoked merely because some anti-religious administrator heard that some gangs somewhere use Rosaries as symbols of self-identification–and if that administrator isn’t doing this merely as a jab at religion generally but is really based on a concern for the girl’s safety and as a way of keeping gang activity under control–IF all of these things can be shown, then perhaps the girl should carry her Rosary in a pouch in her purse and wear some other symbol of her faith publicly.
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Sophia_Mary
Guest
I do not think the rosary is a gang symbol. The rosary is handed out to anyone who will accept it. If I meet someone wearing a rosary, I tell them it is not a necklace. I pray, the young people with the rosary will say prayers, associated with the rosary. I know Mary will protect them.
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childofmary1143
Guest
The big thing here in this is that the Rosary doesn’t in any way help gang members to do gang (illegal) activities. Henceforth they should not be banned.
Also if you watch the NBC news story on this
breitbart.tv/?p=177183
it reports that the School District said that the Rosary is identified as a gang symbol by the police and the police have denied this.
Also if you watch the NBC news story on this
breitbart.tv/?p=177183
it reports that the School District said that the Rosary is identified as a gang symbol by the police and the police have denied this.
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Canto
Guest
If jt was just a pearl necklace without the crucifix would she still be aloud to where it? 
If gangs hijacked the American flag and she wore a flag to school would they ban the flag?
Is it FAIR that she should banned from wearing an important relgious symbol Catholic use to meditate on the life of Christ simply because some thugs have hijacked the symbol?
If gangs hijacked the American flag and she wore a flag to school would they ban the flag?
Is it FAIR that she should banned from wearing an important relgious symbol Catholic use to meditate on the life of Christ simply because some thugs have hijacked the symbol?
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Sophia_Mary
Guest
Life is not fair. The students should go to school and obey their teachers. If they have a gang problem there, the student should not wear the rosary. Because it is made of metal, and because she was told not to wear it. Personally I do not wear crosses. Because the religious wears them, and some cults use them to symbolize their beliefs.If jt was just a pearl necklace without the crucifix would she still be aloud to where it?
If gangs hijacked the American flag and she wore a flag to school would they ban the flag?
Is it FAIR that she should banned from wearing an important relgious symbol Catholic use to meditate on the life of Christ simply because some thugs have hijacked the symbol?
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childofmary1143
Guest
Life may not be fair but the laws must be fair otherwise we are not a civilized society.
It wasn’t the teachers who instituted this, it was the School board. Personally speaking, since religious freedoms are constantly being threatened in the schools, perhaps its time that school board members be threatened with criminal sanctions if they enact policies that violate our rights.
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adopted_heir
Guest
The last couple of posts reminded me of a saying: “Fair” is a place people put ribbons on pigs. Unfortunately something being fair or not ultimately doesn’t matter. She should be able to wear or carry or display her Rosary, or any other reminder of her faith without fear or punishment, but also she should bow to those in authority over her at school, and trust that they are acting to protect her safety and not abusing their authority or quashing her freedoms. If she acts in faith that God will work the situation to His own will, she will glorify Him in her obedience to those above her, and set an example for those who wear the Rosary without understanding its meaning.
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childofmary1143
Guest
I can respect what your saying but I have a real problem with how “obedience” is defined these days.
Under no circumstances are we required to be obedient when those “over us” are being disobedient in what they are requesting of us. Let me put it in straight terms. Freedom of religion is a constitutional right. There is no way that gang members use the rosary in a criminal matter. A criminal matter would be using something to break the law i.e. a gun. What the gangs have done is taken a sacred religious object and used it as their “uniform” if you will. A means to identify one another.
A rosary is symbol and a practice of our Catholic faith. It existed before there were gangs and hopefully will exist long after gangs.
Henceforth the school has no moral right and hopefully soon legal right to ban the wearing of the rosary
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adopted_heir
Guest
I disagree. Jesus didn’t say “Render unto Caesar when Caesar is right and just.” Rather when those in authority were wrong and even outright evil, God used the obedience of His followers to work miracles and solutions that came out even better than could’ve been imagined. Our job is to obey those in authority over us even when they are wrong or stupid or abusive, UP TO the point where they command us to sin. That is where their authority ends and God’s authority given to us to rebel begins. Once they cross that line, their earthly authority ends and we are not under obligation to obey. However until then the Bible teaches that authority is a God-given privilege and part of the natural order, whether it is disordered or ideal. Obeying those above us is not the exception when we feel like it or when we think they’re right, but it is our obligation to God and a sign of our obedience to Him.
That is not to say the girl should not appeal to the school authorities and tell them her side of the situation and ask that some resolution be reached. By all means she should, just as Esther begged her king for mercy. But in the meantime, she should keep her Rosary in her pocket, pray for those in important places, and not hold a grudge or act in spite of them. Remember when Jesus said to daily pick up our crosses and follow him, he didn’t say to carry that cross only until someone steps on our rights.
That is not to say the girl should not appeal to the school authorities and tell them her side of the situation and ask that some resolution be reached. By all means she should, just as Esther begged her king for mercy. But in the meantime, she should keep her Rosary in her pocket, pray for those in important places, and not hold a grudge or act in spite of them. Remember when Jesus said to daily pick up our crosses and follow him, he didn’t say to carry that cross only until someone steps on our rights.
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childofmary1143
Guest
We obviously disagree on this but I would like your opinion on something. You stated that she should put her rosary in her pocket. Now I would think that if the school is as serious about gangs as they claim to be, then metal detectors are something that students would go through. If she has a rosary in her pocket, and the detector goes off, should she be stripped of her rosary?
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adopted_heir
Guest
No because wasn’t the issue gang members wearing the Rosary? If they did have the poor taste (I totally agree that the whole situation is wrong to begin with–it shouldn’t be an issue at all) she should still obey, perhaps invest in a Rosary bracelet or ring, and keep the appeals coming. I wouldn’t say to lay back and let the issue rest, but I don’t think it would be right, and it definitely wouldn’t persuade the school board, if she was defiant or spiteful. If the Rosary is in her pocket, it seems like that would hide it and she wouldn’t be identified as a gang member simply because having the thing in her pocket keeps it from being openly visible to other people, especially gang members with whom she may be identified.
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ExclaimPoint
Guest
People hang rosaries over the rearview mirrors in cars to identify themselves, not a Catholics, but as Latino so their cars won’t be attacked.
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adopted_heir
Guest
That has always seemed strange to me that people would do that. Wearing it as a necklace, I can understand because that may be the most practical way to keep it with you and use it. But you really shouldn’t be counting beads as you’re driving, and it should be getting more use than just hanging there.
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pnewton
Guest
For what crime?
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canne
Guest
Huh?
I am Hispanic and live in largely Hispanic/Catholic area and I have never heard of such a thing as hanging a rosary in your car to identify yourself as "latino’ so your car won’t be attacked.
I also live in CA in an area which has a gang problem, so I am not unfamiliar with hispanic/latino gangs. Can you please tell me how you arrive at this statement?
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ExclaimPoint
Guest
Soldiers in combat can wear them because it helps them focus on their mission. The person should keep his in the pocket. It makes it available for using it in prayer.
People should not carry them to feel protected by them as that would be a form of “voodoo”. It is a tool for prayer and nothing more.
Look at how many gang members have the image of Jesus tatooed all over their bodies but have no idea that He is the one who will sentence them to hell for their corrupt life.
That is how the Latin American church has corrupted our own Catholic Church. By not stopping these people with their insane ideas of what Jesus and the Catholic Church is all about, they have endorsed this evil behavior.
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ExclaimPoint
Guest
I may be mistaken about the rosary protecting a car or person because my 2 elderly aunts visited us many years ago with a car that was loaded with religious symbols, but their car was attacked. On the other hand, they were the only white people who had a car on the street in a neighborhood loaded with hispanics. Draw your own conclusion.
Like all thing in life, it may be true in one neighborhood and not true in another.
And I guess all those who are tatooed with Jesus will get gunned down just as easily as those who do not have those tatoos. Both gangs could be making “the sign of the cross” but they do it as a superstition not to acknowledge Jesus.
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LDNCatholic
Guest
It is the same Church.
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