Massachusetts
Massachusetts middle school can’t be called Catholic after flying Gay Pride and Black Lives Matter flags, bishop says
The Nativity School of Worcester, which usually according to the governance and handle of school operations will be fully in addition to the diocese in addition to receive no funding by them, vowed to attractiveness the bishop’s decision.
Bishop Robert J. McManus Thurs night cited an open correspondence to the school throughout early May as component of reason for his or her decision.
“I publicly expressed in a letter…that will ‘these symbols (flags) incorporate specific agendas or ideologies (that) contradict Catholic sociable and moral teaching,’” McManus said. “It is usually my contention that the particular ‘Gay Pride’ flag signifies support of gay marital relationship and actively living a good LGBTQ+ lifestyle.”
“This is usually also true of ‘Black Lives Matter,’” McManus said. “The Catholic Cathedral teaches that all lifetime is sacred and the particular Church certainly stands absolutely behind the phrase ‘black lives matter’ and firmly affirms that all existence matter.”
After the recent classes year, the school can’t identify and identify itself as Catholic, McManus says. Catholic mass is usually prohibited on school environment along with any school-sponsored mass at any religious organization or chapel within the particular Diocese of Worcester, between other repercussions, McManus tells.
The school cited a good call from students, the particular majority of whom will be people of color, because one reason for hovering the flags starting throughout January 2021.
“As a good multicultural school, the red flags represent the inclusion in addition to respect of all folks,” the teachers president, Betty McKenney, said in a good statement responding to the particular bishop’s decision. “These red flags simply state that almost all are welcome at Nativity and this associated with addition is rooted in Catholic teaching.”
“Both flags will be now widely understood to indicate the human dignity regarding our relatives, friends in addition to neighbors who have experienced, and continue to deal with hate and discrimination,” McKenney said. “Though just about any symbol or flag could be co-opted by personal groups or organizations, hovering our flags is not really the endorsement of any business or ideology. They travel in support of marginalized people.”
The school stated it will eventually continue to travel the flags “to supply visible witness to the particular school’s solidarity with this individuals, families and their organizations,” McKenney said. “Commitment to our mission, grounded and animated by Gospel values, Catholic Social Educating, and our Jesuit customs compels us to accomplish so.”