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HAVERSTRAW (WABC) -- The parents of a high school student from Rockland County are demanding answers after their ninth grader was suspended for wearing rosary beads to school.

He was suspended even though the school doesn't even have a policy banning them. So did the principal go too far? Jason Laguna is a former altar boy and proud Catholic. He got his rosary beads as a gift, thinks they look cool and sometimes wears them under his shirt at school. But last Friday, right before dismissal, he pulled them out on his way out. He was given a one-day suspension from Fieldstone Secondary School. His mother calls the punishment extreme, considering the 14-year-old is a member of student government and, according to his last report card, "is a pleasure to have in class." Laguna says she was told the school has an unwritten policy regarding beads because they could be used to show gang affiliation. The principal claims it was insubordination, saying Laguna's actions, "endangered the safety, health, morals or welfare of himself or others." Jason was supposed to stay home Friday, but late Thursday the district superintendent put that on hold pending further investigation. It may not be divine intervention, but his mother has contacted the American Civil Liberties Union as she continues to fight the suspension.

The principal claims it was insubordination, saying Laguna's actions, "endangered the safety, health, morals or welfare of himself or others."

catamount man wrote:the principal violated this young man's right because as we all know no expression of freedom of religion is SUPPOSED to be denied but then again when it comes to Christianity those rights go out the door. Can you see this with a Muslim student. The dept of education is to blame, they are nothing more than an atheistic left wing indoctrinating brain washing tool of the tyrannical empire and I pray someday they get the biggest audit and investigation in history.

would to God all public schools systems would fail and the education of all children can fall back to their God given guardians, their parents, you know a MOM AND A DAD.

The late great USA and with the course this once great nation is on, I see no reason to support this despot of a government anymore. Just wish I had the nuts to quit paying my taxes so they could throw me in jail to die a political martyr. FUCK OBAMA, FUCK OUR CONGRESS, FUCK THIS NATION!!!

mainejeff wrote:*Yawn*

All organized religion is now is an excuse for people to get attention, control the minds and hearts of others, and make gobs of $$$.

SuperHornet wrote:While I kinda understand using the Rosary beads for prayer, I've never really seen those who use their Rosary for a necklace. That said, this principal oughta be out on his keyster. Principals who don't understand the law regarding Christian student rights (really, the religious rights of ANY student) are a dime a dozen. For most, it's just a simple misunderstanding of the law. There ARE anti-Christian bigots in these positions of authority, but they are few compared to those who are merely ignorant of the law.

I'd say a visit to the American Center for Law and Justice would be a good thing for this student.

catamount man wrote:

mainejeff wrote:*Yawn*

All organized religion is now is an excuse for people to get attention, control the minds and hearts of others, and make gobs of $$$.

as is big government liberalism.

mainejeff wrote:

catamount man wrote:
as is big government liberalism.

Trash.

catamount man wrote:

mainejeff wrote:*Yawn*

All organized religion is now is an excuse for people to get attention, control the minds and hearts of others, and make gobs of $$$.

as is big government liberalism.

travelinman67 wrote:

catamount man wrote:
as is big government liberalism.

That IS their "religion": Secular government as God.

D1B wrote:

travelinman67 wrote:
That IS their "religion": Secular government as God.

Yeah, right Huckleberry. 1.6 % of the population has taken over government.

Also, the rest of the story...

Police say rosaries are newest gang symbol



Marco Castro,16, left, and Jaime Salazar, 14, show the rosaries that led to their suspension from South Albany High School in Albany, Ore., Feb. 23.


By Esmeralda Bermudez, Religion News Service
ALBANY, Ore. — Never did Jaime Salazar imagine that wearing a rosarylike crucifix to school would provoke a national stir.
But when Salazar, 14, and his 16-year-old friend Marco Castro were suspended recently for refusing to remove the religious beads because they were "gang-related," it thrust the issue into the headlines and has triggered questions over the evolving role of rosaries in religion, fashion and street gangs.

In the latest cultural take on a symbol that has gone from Catholic altars to Britney Spears' bosom, the rosary is blurring the lines of liberty and safety on campus.

Some call the rosary-gang connection a stretch and urge caution. But for educators and public safety officials charged with blocking fluid gang trends, rosaries have become one more marker to track suspicious activity.

travelinman67 wrote:

D1B wrote:

Yeah, right Huckleberry. 1.6 % of the population has taken over government.

Also, the rest of the story...

Police say rosaries are newest gang symbol



Marco Castro,16, left, and Jaime Salazar, 14, show the rosaries that led to their suspension from South Albany High School in Albany, Ore., Feb. 23.


By Esmeralda Bermudez, Religion News Service
ALBANY, Ore. — Never did Jaime Salazar imagine that wearing a rosarylike crucifix to school would provoke a national stir.
But when Salazar, 14, and his 16-year-old friend Marco Castro were suspended recently for refusing to remove the religious beads because they were "gang-related," it thrust the issue into the headlines and has triggered questions over the evolving role of rosaries in religion, fashion and street gangs.

In the latest cultural take on a symbol that has gone from Catholic altars to Britney Spears' bosom, the rosary is blurring the lines of liberty and safety on campus.

Some call the rosary-gang connection a stretch and urge caution. But for educators and public safety officials charged with blocking fluid gang trends, rosaries have become one more marker to track suspicious activity.

Yup...you outed them D...

...the second largest "gang" on the planet.

D1B wrote:

travelinman67 wrote:
Yup...you outed them D...

...the second largest "gang" on the planet.

So, you're saying the cops are lying?

travelinman67 wrote:

D1B wrote:
So, you're saying the cops are lying?

FYI, Sherlock...

...L.E. agencies in OR as a rule do not maintain Intelligence units...

...haven't since the late 80's. So they wouldn't know a street gang moniker if it hit them in the face.

Just more lib overreaction to rationalize anti-religious policy.