The Anchor Diocese of Fall River
F riday , March 15, 2013
State school board approves transgender bathroom policy By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent
BOSTON — Massachusetts legislators passed the controversial Transgender Rights Law in 2011 only after supporters dropped the sections that earned the measure the ominous nickname “Bathroom Bill.” At the time, it seemed that everyone agreed that the law would not open bathrooms and locker rooms to members of the opposite sex. Patricia Doherty, executive director of Catholic Citizenship, told The Anchor that she was present the night the House passed the legislation on Nov. 16, 2011. In an “extremely unusual” move, one of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty (D-Chelsea), addressed the floor and assured legislators, “This is not a bathroom bill. It is not a locker room bill. You do not have to worry about this bill,” she quoted him. Apparently, Mitchell Chester, commissioner of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, was absent that evening. On February 15, he issued a new policy calling for schools to open bathrooms, locker rooms and athletic teams to transgender students. Two weeks later, he met with legislators who voiced their displeasure with the new directive, but he has not amended it. In a statement released by the Massachusetts Family Institute Rep. Sheila Harrington (R-Gronton), present at the meeting with Chester, said, “I am very disappointed that the commissioner justified his actions on his inter-
pretation of a new law that in no way prescribes such actions.” She added that at the time of the law’s passage, it was “crystal clear” that public accommodations would not be affected. Since then, proponents of the original legislation, which was first introduced more than seven years ago with the public accommodations language intact, have sought to add the omitted parts as an amendment. On the other side, there are two bills — one that would repeal the entire transgender law outright and a second that would specify that lawfully sex-segregated facilities not be open to members of the opposite sex. Both measures are supported by MFI and Catholic Citizenship. The transgender law, passed by the state senate on Nov. 17, 2011 and signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick, took effect on July 1, 2012. The measure was designed to prevent discrimination in the areas of housing, employment, lending and education. The four Catholic bishops in the Commonwealth have consistently opposed the transgender law. The Massachusetts Catholic Conference submitted testimony against the bill, citing concern over the broad definition of gender identity. According to the law, a citizen need only show that their gender identity is “sincerely held.” “An individual would be legally empowered to pose as both a man and a woman at different times or at the same time, and for any length Turn to page 19
RALLYING CRY — “Show up; step up; step out,” was the mantra repeated by Jesse Manibusan while he performed at this year’s high school youth convention held at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. Graduates of the Fall River Diocese’s Christian Leadership Institute helped organize the event, and also joined Manibusan on stage during his performance. (Photo by Becky Aubut)
High school youth convention focuses on making students disciples of Christ By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff
NORTH DARTMOUTH — The number of attendees may have been smaller than at past conventions, but that didn’t deter the recent graduates of the Christian Leadership Institute from putting their best efforts into planning this year’s High School Youth Convention focused on the theme: “Go Therefore and Make Disciples” and held at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. Earlier this summer teenagers from area parishes spent a week at Cathedral Camp in
nesses and how to use them. Just what you can do as a leader, and kids need leaders now.” Sara DaCosta, a junior at Fairhaven High School and parishioner of St. Joseph’s Parish in Fairhaven, said she enjoyed meeting and working with likeminded teen-agers from area parishes. “There was definitely a sense of community,” said DaCosta. “We were just a whole bunch of random kids who did not know each other and we bonded so quickly.” As a student of Joseph Case Turn to page 14
“He called me and I came down to see what was wrong,” Father Hindsley told The Anchor. “They stole the tabernacle with the consecrated Hosts inside, they stole a chalice, they stole three ciboria, they stole candlesticks, a bucket of holy water, and a copy of the Roman Missal. They also smashed some glass and strew things around, throwing the Holy Bible on the floor.” Although Father Hindsley said there was no evidence of a break-in, one of the doors to the church located at 945 Main Road
that “is always locked was found unlocked … that’s all we know.” “The police took fingerprints, but I don’t think they found much,” Father Hindsley added. “A detective came back here this morning (and) they are continuing to investigate.” Father Horace J. Travassos, pastor of the nearby Our Lady of Grace Parish in Westport, said there had been no similar acts of vandalism at his church and he couldn’t recall anything like this happening before. “It’s very distressing to me,” Turn to page 18
Malicious vandalism at Westport church seen as potential hate crime
By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
SINFUL ACT — A Bible and several religious icons were among the items that were found desecrated on March 2 inside St. John the Baptist Church in Westport after a break-in and deliberate act of vandalism the night before.
East Freetown embracing the CLI philosophies of combining Christian faith with leadership skills, an effort that culminates with the CLI grads organizing the Fall River Diocese’s annual high school youth convention. Caroline Kirby’s sister had attended the CLI program a few years ago and when the opportunity came for her to attend, the parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro jumped at the chance. “It showed us not just how to learn how to work with other people,” she explained, “but to find your strengths and weak-
WESTPORT — People arriving for the 4:30 p.m. Saturday vigil Mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Westport on March 2 were distraught to learn the Liturgy had been cancelled due to a malicious act of vandalism that occurred sometime the previous night. According to the church’s pastor, Father Leonard Hindsley, the parish sacristan had arrived about three o’clock that afternoon to prepare for Mass when he discovered the crime scene.