Methodist Ladies’ College in Victoria, Australia, is facing backlash after reportedly telling its students they must remove their Christian cross necklaces, identifying their faith in Jesus Christ. According to reports, the school deemed the symbol “offensive” as it could make others feel uncomfortable.
One anonymous student recounted an incident where a student was told to remove their cross. “My friend was wearing a cross and there was another girl in our class who said she found the cross really offensive and so the teacher told her to take it off. My friend’s parents, who are very religious, tried to get answers from the school and were told ‘it’s not a good look for the school.’”
Ironically, as the institution’s name suggests, Methodist Ladies’ College is a Christian school that was founded by the Methodist Church in 1882. However, the school now appears to have drifted from its Christian roots. “This is supposed to be a religious school but they are listening to minority opinion rather than mainstream religious students,” another student stated.
However, some students who have defied the order from the school have received praise for standing firm in their expressions of faith. “Well done to the girls who are standing up to the bullish behavior of the school. Well done to the students who are defending their fellow students, whether they are of Christian faith or not,” Pastor Murray Campbell said.
Stephen Chavura, a history lecturer and author, stated,“We know now that the word inclusivity means exclusivity, and the word diversity means uniformity, but I want to praise these girls for standing up to woke bullying.” He urged the girls, “Wear your crosses, if you have a cross turn up to school and wear it, send a message to other students and teachers and to the school in general, that this is a Christian school, it is not a Marxist woke school.”
In light of the backlash, Principal Julia Shea claimed, “We aim to apply a consistent uniform policy that prohibits visible jewelry. We do not have any students attending school wearing furry tails and ears.” She added, “This policy applies equally to all students and is not related to religion or any individual’s beliefs. It ensures that every student adheres to the same standard of presentation, fostering unity within our diverse community.”
The Christian Tribune reported on other seeming instances of the suppression of Christian expressions of faith, where a man in the UK was criminally punished for praying near an abortion clinic. “Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts – silent thoughts – can be illegal in the United Kingdom. That cannot be right. All I did was pray to God, in the privacy of my own mind – and yet I stand convicted as a criminal?” Adam Smith-Connor said after his verdict in court.”
“A man has been convicted today because of the content of his thoughts – his prayers to God – on the public streets of England,” Jeremiah Igunnubole, legal counsel for ADF UK. “We can hardly sink any lower in our neglect of basic fundamental freedoms of free speech and thought. We will look closely at the judgment and will consider an appeal. Human rights are for all people – no matter their view on abortion.”
Featured image credit: HannahJoe7, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Necklace_with_cross,_made_of_stainless_steel.jpg