KETV7 in Omaha is reporting that Elizabeth Carey, 12, said the school adopted a policy last year that banned the wearing of rosary beads.
"The principal said I couldn't wear my necklace at all because gangsters were wearing it," she said.
But for her, the use of a rosary necklace is a sign of her faith. "I'm wearing a cross necklace, a cross T-shirt and a cross bracelet," she told the station. "I'm thinking of how Jesus died on the cross and how he gave up all his sins for us."
However, school superintendent Steve Sexton said the policy is for student safety.
"We had information from law enforcement that there were documented instances of gang activity in the area and we had information that states that the rosary was being used as a symbol of gang affiliation," Sexton said.
He said rosaries have been used as gang-identification symbols in Oregon, Arizona and Texas.
The district has no problem with the wearing of religious symbols to school, he said, but the rosary is an exception.
Rev. Joseph Taphorn, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Omaha, called the incident disheartening.
"I don't think Christians should have to forfeit what is the symbol for the love of Christ because a few people want to misuse that symbol," he said.
"One ought to be able to figure out whether she's trying to promote a gang," Taphorn said. "If she's not, why would she be punished for her right of religious freedom and religious expression?"
Carey's parents are upset that their daughter was being kept from expressing her religious beliefs and are supporting their daughter who has vowed to continue to wear Christian symbols to school.
"I'm deciding to stand up for Jesus and do whatever I can to stop this," she said.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
Church Decries Banning of Rosaries from Public Schools
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The Archdiocese of Omaha is criticizing the Fremont Public Schools in Fremont, Nebraska for forbidding a sixth-grader from wearing a rosary to school, saying it violates the dress code and has been used as gang-identification symbols in several western states.
KETV7 in Omaha is reporting that Elizabeth Carey, 12, said the school adopted a policy last year that banned the wearing of rosary beads.
"The principal said I couldn't wear my necklace at all because gangsters were wearing it," she said.
But for her, the use of a rosary necklace is a sign of her faith. "I'm wearing a cross necklace, a cross T-shirt and a cross bracelet," she told the station. "I'm thinking of how Jesus died on the cross and how he gave up all his sins for us."
However, school superintendent Steve Sexton said the policy is for student safety.
"We had information from law enforcement that there were documented instances of gang activity in the area and we had information that states that the rosary was being used as a symbol of gang affiliation," Sexton said.
He said rosaries have been used as gang-identification symbols in Oregon, Arizona and Texas.
The district has no problem with the wearing of religious symbols to school, he said, but the rosary is an exception.
Rev. Joseph Taphorn, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Omaha, called the incident disheartening.
"I don't think Christians should have to forfeit what is the symbol for the love of Christ because a few people want to misuse that symbol," he said.
"One ought to be able to figure out whether she's trying to promote a gang," Taphorn said. "If she's not, why would she be punished for her right of religious freedom and religious expression?"
Carey's parents are upset that their daughter was being kept from expressing her religious beliefs and are supporting their daughter who has vowed to continue to wear Christian symbols to school.
"I'm deciding to stand up for Jesus and do whatever I can to stop this," she said.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
KETV7 in Omaha is reporting that Elizabeth Carey, 12, said the school adopted a policy last year that banned the wearing of rosary beads.
"The principal said I couldn't wear my necklace at all because gangsters were wearing it," she said.
But for her, the use of a rosary necklace is a sign of her faith. "I'm wearing a cross necklace, a cross T-shirt and a cross bracelet," she told the station. "I'm thinking of how Jesus died on the cross and how he gave up all his sins for us."
However, school superintendent Steve Sexton said the policy is for student safety.
"We had information from law enforcement that there were documented instances of gang activity in the area and we had information that states that the rosary was being used as a symbol of gang affiliation," Sexton said.
He said rosaries have been used as gang-identification symbols in Oregon, Arizona and Texas.
The district has no problem with the wearing of religious symbols to school, he said, but the rosary is an exception.
Rev. Joseph Taphorn, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Omaha, called the incident disheartening.
"I don't think Christians should have to forfeit what is the symbol for the love of Christ because a few people want to misuse that symbol," he said.
"One ought to be able to figure out whether she's trying to promote a gang," Taphorn said. "If she's not, why would she be punished for her right of religious freedom and religious expression?"
Carey's parents are upset that their daughter was being kept from expressing her religious beliefs and are supporting their daughter who has vowed to continue to wear Christian symbols to school.
"I'm deciding to stand up for Jesus and do whatever I can to stop this," she said.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
