John’s Food for the Poor program director Billy Riley. The Diocese placed Riley on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. The Diocese of Worcester and Bishop McManus are currently dealing with allegations of "illegal activity with adults" against St. “I think that it’s time to hold the bishop accountable for the abuse that they’re inflicting on the LGBTQ community,” Croke said. And we have to challenge positions of authority that are using that authority to diminish and erase our existence,” said David Conner, co-founder of Queer the Scene. “It’s unfortunate, and we have to continue to advocate for our right to be in and occupy spaces. The diocese says there will be ongoing discussions with the school.Ĭommunity organizers are hoping not only for the flags to stay, but for action to be taken. “On my first ride into Worcester, coming in on the highway and seeing the rainbow flag flowing over the MB Lounge was like one of the most reassuring symbols I saw,” Brown-Noguera said. “As a person of faith, it pains me whenever it is that folks will use religion as a way to oppress people,” said Al Green, ministry director of the LGBT Asylum Task Force.Ī pride flag making someone feel welcome is something Lamar Brown-Noguera, Community Relations Director for AIDS Project Worcester, understands first hand.
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“This is an issue of, or attempt to, erase and make invisible a community of people who exist,” said Joshua Croke, president and co-founder of Love Your Labels. “Giving them a space in school where they feel that those around them love and care for them exactly how they are is extremely important,” said Mass Equality’s executive director, Taylor Neslusan. They said the Black Lives Matter and pride flags flying outside of the Nativity School need to stay. Some members of Worcester’s black and LGBTQ community are frustrated. That is the purpose of flying these flags.”
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“It says to them that they, in fact, do matter and deserve to be respected as our Christian values teach us.
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“The Black Lives Matter and Pride 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,” the school’s statement continued. In response to the Bishop’s statement, Nativity School said in a statement of their own, “We proudly operate in the Diocese of Worcester but are not a Diocesan school as we are sponsored by the USA East Province of Jesuits.” The bisexual pride flag was designed by Michael Page in 1998 in order to give the bisexual community its own symbol comparable to the gay pride flag of the. The Bishop of Worcester is questioning the Nativity School of Worcester’s commitment to Catholicism for flying Black Lives Matter and gay pride flags.Īccording to the Boston Globe, the school has been flying the flags for over a year.īishop Robert McManus released a statement Saturday saying while the church teaches all lives are equal before God and that all lives demand respect regardless of race, gender or ethnicity, the flag with the emblem Black Lives Matter has been associated with distrust of police and those entrusted with enforcing the laws.īishop McManus said gay pride flags often stand in contrast to consistent catholic teachings.