Nativity School may no longer call itself Catholic, Bishop says

By Maria LeDoux And Margaret M. Russell
The Catholic Free Press

Bishop McManus has informed Nativity School of Worcester that it may no longer identify itself as a Catholic school. Following months of private and public discussion on the flying of Black Lives Matter and gay pride flags outside the school at 67 Lincoln St., the Bishop issued a formal decree removing support for the school.  
In a written statement this week, Nativity School President Thomas McKenney said the school will appeal the decision “through appropriate channels” and will continue to display the flags. The school contends the flags are “not an endorsement of any organization or ideology, they fly in support of marginalized people.”
On June 10 Bishop McManus signed a decree stating that he was upholding his “pastoral responsibilities,” and “in accordance with canon law,” declared that Nativity School is prohibited “from identifying itself as a ‘Catholic’ school” or using “the title ‘Catholic’ to describe itself.” The declaration is effective immediately.
Bishop McManus also declared three more conditions. The first: “Mass, sacraments and sacramentals are no longer permitted to be celebrated on Nativity School premises or be sponsored by Nativity School in any church building or chapel within the Diocese of Worcester.” Secondly, “the Nativity School is not allowed to undertake any fundraising involving diocesan institutions in the Diocese of Worcester and is not permitted to be listed or advertise in the Diocesan Directory.” Lastly, “the name of Bishop Emeritus Daniel P. Reilly must be removed from the list of the Board of Trustees of Nativity School.”
A Black Lives Matter and a gay pride rainbow flag have been flown on the grounds of Nativity School since early 2021, the school has stated. Founded in 2003, Nativity school is a tuition-free, private, independent, Jesuit middle school. It is not a diocesan school.
In March, Bishop McManus was made aware of the flags being flown over the Roman Catholic affiliated school and, according to the school, asked them to remove the flags.
He issued a public statement, and later a letter regarding the flags, after private talks with the school were reported on by the media.
In a statement issued on April 3, Bishop McManus began by saying, “The Catholic Church joins with our nation in teaching that all lives are equal before God and the law and that all lives demand our respect regardless of race, gender or ethnicity …” 
The Black Lives Matter flag “has at times been coopted by some factions which also instill broad-brush distrust of police and those entrusted with enforcing our laws,” and the gay pride flag is “often used to stand in contrast to consistent Catholic teaching that sacramental marriage is between a man and a woman,” Bishop McManus said. He urged Nativity School to reconsider the imagery and symbols being used, for the sake of the spiritual and moral formation of young people.
In this week’s letter to the school community, Mr. McKenney restated the history behind the use of the flags. “In January 2021, Nativity started flying the Pride and Black Lives Matter flags following our students’ (the majority of whom are people of color) call to express support for making our communities more just and inclusive,” he wrote.
On May 5, Bishop McManus issued an open letter to the community about the flags at Nativity titled, “Why Symbols Matter.” He once again affirmed the Catholic Church’s stance to love one another regardless of “any differentiators one can cite.” He stated, “We believe that we are all loved into existence by God and redeemed by [Christ]… We are stewards of our bodies but not owners to do with it as we please.” ...
“Because every human life is sacred, the Church is 100% behind the phrase ‘black lives matter.’” However, “a specific movement with a wider agenda has co-opted the phrase and promotes a 13-principle agenda for schools ... those principles include, in their own words, to be ‘queer affirming’ and ‘trans affirming.’” The Black Lives Matter movement is contradictory to the Catholic social teaching on the role of the family in society, he said.
Stating that an institution cannot be run on contradictory principles, in the open letter Bishop McManus asks Nativity School: “Which identity do you choose?”  
Acknowledging that there are many non-Catholic institutions that carry out important humanitarian service, Bishop McManus says that “to be Catholic means espousing, not denying our Catholic identity” - an identity defined “by 2,000 years of theological reflections and tradition.” 
“While we all share in wanting all our students, in particular our black and brown-inner-city students, to feel safe and welcome, we must abide by the moral axiom that ‘the ends do not justify the means,’” Bishop McManus said.
Prior to the publication of the decree, Bishop McManus wrote in the public letter, “It is my fervent prayer that Nativity School will decide to display only banners which will complement the Cross of Christ which tells them why they are loved. Flags bearing the words ‘End Racism’ and ‘We are all God’s Children’ would be far more appropriate for a Catholic school.” 
According to this week’s statement from Nativity School, Bishop McManus warned the school in mid-May that if the flags were not removed, “Nativity will ‘be prohibited from identifying itself as a Catholic School.’”   
Despite communications between the Bishop and Nativity School, the Black Lives Matter and the gay pride flags are still flying outside of the school. The school’s response this week was to say that “after meaningful deliberation and discernment by its Board, leadership team, faculty, and partners, Nativity will continue to display the flags in question to give visible witness to the school’s solidarity with our students, families, and their communities.”
In the decree Bishop McManus noted that as the authority and overseer of Catholic schools, it is the “sacred duty” and “inherent responsibility” of a diocesan bishop to determine if a school is or is not acting in a way harmonious to the teachings of the Catholic Church, while participating in the evangelizing mission of the Church. He issued the formal decree in accordance with canon law.
Nativity President McKenney responded: “In collaboration with the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus, Nativity will seek to appeal the decision of the Diocese to remove our Catholic identity through the appropriate channels provided by the Church in circumstances like this.”