A bishop in Worcester, Massachusetts, has mentioned an space center college can not name itself Catholic as a result of it flew satisfaction and Black Lives Matter flags on its campus after being instructed to take them down. In a decree, Bishop Robert J. McManus mentioned the Nativity College is supporting actions which might be "inconsistent with Catholic educating."
McManus wrote that "the 'Homosexual Satisfaction' flag represents assist of homosexual marriage and actively dwelling a LGBTQ+ way of life."
As for the Black Lives Matter flag, he mentioned that whereas the church "stands unequivocally behind the phrase 'black lives matter' and strongly affirms that every one lives matter," the BLM motion "co-opted the phrase and promotes a platform that immediately contradicts Catholic social educating on the significance and position of the nuclear household and seeks to disrupt the household construction in clear opposition to the teachings of the Catholic Church."
"The flying of those flags in entrance of a Catholic college sends a combined, complicated and scandalous message to the general public concerning the Church's stance on these necessary ethical and social points," the bishop wrote.
Not solely can the college not establish as Catholic, but it surely additionally can't have a good time mass, sacraments or sacramentals, be listed within the Diocesan Listing, or fundraise with diocesan establishments, McManus mentioned. A bishop serving on the college's board of trustees should be eliminated.
The college started flying the flags in January 2021, saying college students referred to as to make the neighborhood "extra simply and inclusive."
In March of this yr, McManus and the Diocese of Worcester instructed the college to take away the flags, CBS Boston reported. On the finish of Could, McManus warned Nativity College leaders that if the flags weren't eliminated, it will not be capable of establish as a Catholic college, the college mentioned.
McManus formally signed a decree making that the case, and spoke concerning the problem Thursday within the Catholic Free Press.
"Whereas all of us share in wanting all our college students, specifically our black and brown-inner-city college students, to really feel secure and welcome, we should abide by the ethical axiom that 'the ends don't justify the means,'" McManus mentioned.
The college's president, Thomas McKenney, mentioned in a Wednesday assertion that the Diocese's resolution is not going to change how the Nativity College operates.
Nevertheless, McKenney mentioned the college will enchantment McManus' resolution. He additionally mentioned the college will proceed to fly the flags "to offer seen witness to the college's solidarity with our college students, households, and their communities."
"As a multicultural college, the flags signify the inclusion and respect of all folks," he mentioned. "These flags merely state that every one are welcome at Nativity and this worth of inclusion is rooted in Catholic educating."
Nativity College is independently funded and doesn't obtain cash from the Diocese.