The Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs said today it supports every student’s right to openly wear religious jewelry, but it’s OK for schools to stop gang members from wearing rosaries as necklaces and gang symbols.
The Washington, D.C.-based American Center for Law & Justice is representing a 13-year-old student at Mann Middle School who says an intercom announcement advising students to remove or conceal religious jewelry caused him to stop wearing a cross necklace to school.
The school made the announcement because some gangs in the area have begun to wear the rosary as a symbol of unity.
The center is representing Cainan Gostnell, a 7th grader, claiming his rights of free speech and religious expression are being violated by the school and has threatened a lawsuit if the school does not rescind its policy by Tuesday.
School District 11 spokeswoman Elaine Naleski told the Associated Press that, except for the rosary, all religious symbols, including crosses, head coverings and the Star of David, can be worn openly. Each school decides for itself whether to enforce the rosary ban.
“Rosaries are not intended to be worn as jewelry,” Rev. Monsignor Robert E. Jaeger said in the diocesan statement. “Students who have a devotion to the rosary should be encouraged to pray the rosary rather than wear it around their necks.”
In these times of increasing hostility toward people of faith, Jaeger said, it is important for the church and faithful to be vigilant against religious discrimination.
However, he said, the diocese also recognizes the need to protect children from gangs and the right of school districts to regulate clothing and other items that have been misappropriated as symbols of gang affiliation.
Center attorneys have said unless a school has evidence the rosary is being worn as gang paraphernalia, a student has a Constitutional right to openly wear one.
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
