Bishop criticizes Catholic school’s Pride and Black Lives Matter flags in Massachusetts
A bishop is speaking out against a Catholic middle school for flying a rainbow Pride flag and Black Lives Matter flag on its Massachusetts campus.
“Is the school committing itself to ideologies which are contrary to Catholic teaching? If so, is it still a Catholic school?,” Worcester Bishop Robert McManus wrote in a diocese statement about the Nativity School of Worcester on April 3.
The independent Jesuit school “proudly” operates in the Diocese of Worcester but doesn’t belong to the diocese, according to a school statement. It’s tuition free and “a highly diverse group of underserved boys of many faiths, races and cultures,” attend.
The school has defended its display of support for the LGBTQ+ community and Black Lives Matter following the bishop’s criticism.
The “flags fly below the American flag at our school to remind our young men, their families and Nativity Worcester staff that all are welcome here and that they are valued and safe in this place.”
“It says to them that they, in fact, do matter and deserve to be respected as our Christian values teach us. That is the purpose of flying these flags.”
In his statement, the bishop acknowledged that the Catholic Church teaches “all lives are equal before God and the law” but said “symbols can mean different things to different people.”
He went on to criticize the Black Lives Matter flag before speaking out against the Pride flag.
“The flag with the emblem Black Lives Matter has at times been coopted by some factions which also instill broad-brush distrust of police and those entrusted with enforcing our laws,” he wrote.
“We do not teach that in our schools.”
The Nativity School’s students are 46% African/African-American, 33% Hispanic/Latino, 2% white, and 20% of students are specified as other or multi-race, according to its website.
In McManus’ letter, he argued against displaying the Pride flag by saying “gay pride flags are often used” in opposition of “Catholic teaching that sacramental marriage is between a man and a woman.”
The Catholic Church has said it will not bless gay marriages in an explanatory statement published by the Vatican on March 15, 2021.
However, it added that “the Christian community and its Pastors are called to welcome with respect and sensitivity persons with homosexual inclinations.”
The bishop concluded his letter in writing that he “must teach that it is imperative that a Catholic School use imagery and symbols which are reflective of that school’s values and principles so as to be clear with young people who are being spiritually and morally formed for the future.”
“While our role in a school is not to convert those who are not Catholic, nor is it our role to deny our Catholic identity.”
McManus said that he wouldn’t speak out publicly about the Nativity School again until their discussions have ended.
A parent of a student who attends the school expressed support for the flags to CBS Boston.
“I want him to be in an environment that accepts his background. And then the gay pride thing, I think everyone should be kind and let people be who they are,” the parent told the outlet.
Nativity School President Thomas McKenney declined a request for further comment from McClatchy News.
This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Bishop criticizes Catholic school’s Pride and Black Lives Matter flags in Massachusetts."
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