Crucifix fightback

Another backdown by the spineless politically correct re the wearing of the symbol of ones faith. But more pressure must be applied for they only consented to it being worn provided it is out of sight. In the meantime at least one school allows racial strangers to wear ceremonial daggers, but let a British child carry a penknife and it will be confiscated.

Politically correct trouble makers should be arrested and locked up. 

To express your concern you may Email the addresses at the bottom of this message.

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UK School Banning Crucifix Chains Backing Away from 'Health and Safety' Excuse

By John-Henry Westen

KENT, January 18, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A school in England is furiously back-pedalling from its suggestion that wearing a crucifix chain is a 'health and safety' concern. The suggestion which was shot down by child family activists as "fraudulent" was put forward by the school in question as an excuse to force a child to remove her crucifix.

News of Robert Napier School's threat to suspend or even expel a student if she refused to remove her crucifix chain spread all across the UK and even internationally this week. The latest from the local news service, Kent news, indicates that the school is now apparently willing to allow the child to wear a crucifix as long as it remains concealed from view.

Danny and Rosemary Devine, the parents of 13-year-old Samantha who was threatened by the school, stormed out of a meeting noting that the principal of the school Fiona Miller "laughed" and "sniggered" at them, belittling their concern for their daughter's religious rights.

Gregory Carlin, a Catholic child rights activist told LifeSiteNews.com that the school's flip flop on health and safety concerns was not surprising. "They were trying to conceal their discriminatory treatment of Catholics but their ludicrous appeal to health and safety concerns was not palatable to the public," Carlin told LifeSiteNews.com.

Dr. Esmond Birnie a member of the Protestant Ulster Unionist Party who defended the child's right to wear a crucifix has suggested that the school's adverse policy may have subjected the student to unwanted mass media exposure.

"When the decision is taken to ban a crucifix, it is sensible to expect that it will be favoured with massive levels of media reportage around the world," said Dr. Birnie. "A personal view, which I have sought to communicate to the teaching profession, is that school policies should be influenced by the not unreasonable expectation that the media will be attracted to the controversial. It is perhaps a good idea to have a strategy prepared in advance of the inevitable media frenzy"

The school governors will meet on January 24 to discuss the matter further. Till then at least, the ban on crucifix chains remains in effect.

The child rights activist Carlin is hoping Christians and those who support freedom will express their concerns to the education authority in advance of the January 24 meeting. "I would encourage people to contact the Local Education Authority for the area (Medway Council), Carlin told LifeSiteNews.com. He will be meeting with the diversity department of the Kent police next week to discuss the matter.

To express concerns contact:

Ms Rose Collinson
Medway Council
Civic Centre
Strood
Rochester
Kent ME2 4AU
childrens.services@medway.gov.uk
researchandreview@medway.gov.uk