Bishop Robert McManus of the Diocese of Worcester issued a decree revoking the Catholic title of the Nativity School over their refusal to remove pro-LGBT and Black Lives Matter flags.
“The flying of these flags in front of a Catholic school sends a mixed, confusing and scandalous message to the public about the Church’s stance on these important moral and social issues,” McManus wrote.
He notes that support for the pride flag connotes support for gay marriage, something that “contradict(s) Catholic social and moral teaching.”
McManus goes on to declare that the Black Lives Matter movement has been co-opted to promote a particular agenda and goes against Catholic teachings supporting the nuclear family.
“The Catholic Church teaches that all life is sacred and the Church certainly stands unequivocally behind the phrase ‘black lives matter’ and strongly affirms that all lives matter,” he writes.
Private Massachusetts Catholic school is EXCOMMUNICATED by local bishop for refusing to remove BLM and Pride flags https://t.co/wvc3tylDOv
— Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) June 17, 2022
RELATED: Catholic Bishop Denies Communion To Democrat Lawmaker For Pro-Abortion Vote
Bishop Offered Catholic School Alternatives to Pride, BLM Flags
The Nativity School is a predominantly Black Catholic middle school and the students voiced support for flying the pride and BLM flags.
In a letter published in May though, the Bishop actually offered reasonable alternatives to the controversial flags that could have avoided his move to revoke the Catholic status of the school.
“You cannot conduct an institution on contradictory principles,” he insisted.
“It is my fervent prayer that Nativity School will decide to display only banners which will complement the Cross of Christ which tells them why they are loved,” McManus continued.
“Flags bearing the words ‘End Racism’ and ‘We are all God’s Children’ would be far more appropriate for a Catholic school.”
Most Rev. Robert J. McManus: Why symbols matter. An open letter to community about flags at Nativity School https://t.co/cfbAHwgJjH #DioceseOfWorcester
— telegramdotcom (@telegramdotcom) May 7, 2022
Can No Longer Conduct Mass
The Bishop’s decree means the Nativity School “may no longer use the title ‘Catholic’ to describe itself.”
They will no longer be allowed to conduct mass or celebrate sacraments in the tradition of a Catholic school, and will no longer be allowed to undertake any fundraising in the diocese.
Bishop punishes school over Black Lives Matter, Pride flags — “Flags that say ‘End Racism’ or ‘We are all God’s Children’ would be far more appropriate for a Catholic school,” the bishop stated.
https://t.co/BK4pMwUlbQ via @nypost— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) June 18, 2022
The school plans to appeal the decision.
Thomas McKenney, the school’s President, issued his own statement suggesting the pride and BLM flags make our communities “more just and inclusive.”
“These flags simply state that all are welcome at Nativity and this value of inclusion is rooted in Catholic teaching,” McKenney said, citing Pope Francis’s outreach and inclusion of the LGBT community.
“Both flags are now widely understood to celebrate the human dignity of our relatives, friends and neighbors who have faced, and continue to face hate and discrimination.”
Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.
The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.”
