A California school has banned a girl from wearing a rosary because local gangs are using it as a symbol.
KETV reports:
A sixth-grade girl said she was told that she can’t wear a necklace that resembles a rosary because it violates the dress code at the Fremont Public Schools.
Elizabeth Carey, 12, said the school adopted a policy last year banning the necklaces.
“The principal said I couldn’t wear my necklace at all because gangsters were wearing it,” she said.
I’ve got an idea. How ’bout we make gang activity illegal in the school rather than banning rosaries altogether?
I understand the school is kinda’ up against it here. They want to stop the gang from actively representing in school and the gang is misusing a rosary. The initial fault is the gangs but banning rosaries is just a precedent that’s a little worrisome.
October 4, 2011 at 2:21 pm
At one of my son's schools here in Virginia, a middle school that went through the 10th grade, the children could not draw rosaries on their papers or in class artwork as rosaries were considered a gang symbol. They were not permitted to draw many other gang symbols as well.
This utterly shocked me, but on reflection, this is HOW you can stop gang activity in the schools. You don't let any of their (in this case co-opted) symbols pervade the learning space. The schools have to be practical — they also ban weapons of any kind as we all know. Of course, it's a sad reality about the rosary, but it doesn't mean the school should not try to stop the gang memberss from bringing their gang presence into schools.
October 4, 2011 at 2:58 pm
A prison ministry that I know of is also restricted in the kinds of rosaries that they can pass out. Gangs members wanted certain colors to signify their affiliation. Can the devil be more devious that that?
October 4, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Yeah straight out of satans workshop.
Now, when EVERYONE prays the Rosary, then we take it back.
Meanwhile, what I don't understand is: why to people want to WEAR the Rosary instead of praying it? (I don't mean gangs here).
Am I the only one who feels that there is something a bit odd about wearing the Rosary?
October 4, 2011 at 4:17 pm
I used to be that guy who put them on the rearview. Yup. That was me. Mine are now in my pocket.
October 4, 2011 at 5:05 pm
Good thing the ACLU is involved
http://www.ketv.com/r/29383522/detail.html
October 4, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Actually, this story is from Nebraska, in the Archdiocese of Omaha. How a school cannot discern that this girl is clearly not affiliated with a gang is beyond me.
October 4, 2011 at 6:10 pm
I still hang a rosary from my rearview mirror. 🙂
October 4, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Perhaps this is because of my age, but I don't see it weird to wear a rosary at all. Many of my friends wear a cord rosary under their shirt for easy access and then they don't have to worry about accidentally washing it in their pocket.
I grew up in Dc area public schools. Gangs were and still are a SERIOUS problem at my school. One way of stopping gang activity is to stop the symbols. If this little girl was wearing her rosary in the wrong section of the school, she would probably get attacked after school. Gangs are dangerous and I don't think being concerned about people's safety is a bad thing.
October 4, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Sister Ursula told me it was profane to wear a rosary, except if you are a nun, and then you wear it from your belt. No one messed with Sr. Ursula. QED
I figure that children can say the rosary in the morning, after school, at night… you can say the rosary in your head, or wear a rosary ring if you simply can't be without your rosary during school hours and you are in danger of a panic attack. It is not a big restriction to suffer in the cause of fighting gangs. The only kids that wore a rosary in my inner city school were stone cold punks. That's just the way it was.
October 4, 2011 at 7:04 pm
I was recently considering a large rosary tattoo across my whole chest and stomach. I figured that way when people saw me, they would know how important my faith is to me. (I am a semi-professional (no jokes please) mma fighter) Now I am reconsidering. I don't want to look like a gang member.
October 4, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Let's be clear though. The school is NOT banning rosaries. They are banning students from wearing rosaries consistent with banning other adornments that have become associated with gangs.
A similar story happened where I live when a high school student was suspended because he refused to remove a rosary. He claimed it was religious, but his claim is highly suspect.
Catholics need to be more vocal that the rosary IS NOT jewelry. Yes, I know there are exceptions to a rosary being worn, but as a rule, the church should return to the idea that it is not an adornment. Carry it, wear it under the clothes, but it is not something to be displayed, especially as a gang sign.
The church should support the school in this case. I wonder how many of the students who wear those rosaries could name the mysteries of the rosary?
October 5, 2011 at 1:04 pm
A culture and civilization driven by avoiding the evil ones tells us there is work to be done to establish the kingdom of God. However, I believe that the excuse given is a not a real reason, but a cover for the atheism that is really tyranny that infects our society. The cowardice that exposes itself does not deserve freedom.
Mary De Voe
October 6, 2011 at 2:34 pm
This story is from Fremont, Nebraska, not California. I grew up about 25 minutes from there. It's a bit of a shock, in place with so many Catholics, but there are a fair number of Hispanics in the small towns near Omaha, and I would imagine that if any gang used rosaries as a sign, it would be an Hispanic gang.
Nonetheless, she should be able to have a rosary. I'm uncomfortable with the fact that she's wearing one, though.