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Title: 'Chastity ring' girl loses case
Source:
BBC
URL Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6900512.stm
Published: Jul 16, 2007
Author: BBC
Post Date: 2007-07-16 20:29:48 by robin
Keywords: None
Views: 338
Comments: 22
Lydia Playfoot was told by Millais School in Horsham, West Sussex, to remove her ring - which symbolises chastity - or face expulsion. The school had denied breaching her human rights and said it was "delighted" with the outcome. Miss Playfoot said she was "very disappointed" by the decision. She said the ruling would "mean that slowly, over time, people such as school governors, employers, political organisations and others will be allowed to stop Christians from publicly expressing and practising their faith". 'Tinged with regret' Judge Michael Supperstone QC said the school, which had insisted the ring was not an essential part of the Christian faith, was "fully justified" in its actions. He ruled the act of wearing a ring was not "intimately linked" to the belief in chastity before marriage. "The claimant (Miss Playfoot) was under no obligation, by reason of her belief, to wear the ring, nor does she suggest that she was so obliged," he said. He rejected the submission that the ring was a "religious artefact" and therefore exempt from the school's uniform policy which bans jewellery. "Whatever the ring is intended to symbolise, it is a piece of jewellery," he said. "...she voluntarily accepted the uniform policy of the school and there are other means open to her to practise her belief without undue hardship or inconvenience." Headmaster Leon Nettley said: "Whilst we are clearly delighted with the outcome of the court hearing today, our success is tinged with regret that proceedings have needed to progress to this level." He added that the school is not anti-Christian and the Christian doctrine is reflected in the "curriculum and life of the school community in many ways". "We have always respected Lydia's right to hold and express her views and believe there were many ways in which it was possible for her to do this during her time with us," he said. Miss Playfoot was one of a group of 11 girls at her school who joined a movement called the Silver Ring Thing. Originating in America, members wear a ring engraved with a reference to the biblical verse I Thessalonians 4:3-4, which translates as: "God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honour." 'Focus on sex' Miss Playfoot said she should be allowed to wear the ring because Sikh and Muslim pupils could wear bangles and headscarves in class. "Over two years ago, I was concerned at the number of teenagers who were catching sexually transmitted diseases, getting pregnant and/or having abortions," she said. "The government's sex education programme is not working and the pressure on young people to 'give in' to sex continues to increase. "This is often because of the media's focus on sex and the expectations of others." The school said the ring contravened its uniform policy and when Miss Playfoot refused to take it off, she was taken out of lessons and made to study on her own. At an earlier hearing at the High Court in London in June, human rights barrister Paul Diamond said the school was "forbidden" by law to set itself up as an arbiter of faith. "Secular authorities cannot rule on religious truth," he said. Mr Diamond, who also represented Nadia Eweida in the British Airways "cross case", argued that the school's actions violated Lydia's right to "freedom of thought, conscience and religion" under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 'Wider significance' Miss Playfoot's first application to the High Court was turned down last year, but judges agreed to hear it after she appealed. The teenager completed her GCSEs in May and has now left the school, but her father Phil, who is a pastor, said she wanted to pursue the case because of its wider significance for all Christians. The organisers of the movement say as many as 25,000 young people have joined so far in the UK and that numbers are growing. Miss Playfoot received messages of support from politicians, including Tory MP Ann Widdecombe and was also backed by the Lawyers Christian Fellowship (LCF). Her case was funded through individual donations gathered through the LCF's sister group Christian Concern for our Nation. Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: "This is entirely the correct decision. "The case was a manipulative attempt to impose a particular religious viewpoint on this school and, presumably, on other schools if this case had been won." The judge ordered Miss Playfoot's father to pay £12,000 towards the school's legal costs. Miss Playfoot said she was now considering whether to appeal against the ruling. Poster Comment: Double standards, or someone in UK doesn't like virgins.
A 16-year-old girl was not discriminated against when she was banned from wearing a "purity ring" in school, the High Court has ruled. 
The government's sex education programme is not working and the pressure on young people to 'give in' to sex continues to increase 
Mr Playfoot and his wife Heather are part of the volunteer team which runs the UK branch of the Silver Ring Thing from their church in Horsham. There should be no religious clothing or insignia in state-funded schools full-stop 
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#1. To: robin (#0)
it's hard to comprehend the anti-christian bigotry of some of the europeans. and I know that there are some Americans who share that as well. In her school the muslims are allowed to wear head-scarfs and other clothes that they claim are related to their faith. But this woman is not allowed to wear a little ring on her finger. I wonder if others are allowed to wear rings, or earrings or necklaces or any symbols whatsoever within their attire.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
incredible persecution.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
My F'n God!, WTF are the outraged parents and people that should be demanding a large turnover in staff at that indoctrination center posing as a school.
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
Hey, it's England. Proof that gun control works just as intended.
True, they are pretty helpless, dumb bastards shouldn't have let their government take their guns. I plan on handing over my bullets first ;)
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
I decided I needed spinakopita, hommous, and a small salad for lunch today. wasn't there for five minutes when a nuclear family featuring a daughter of about seventeen years was seated near me, and let me tell you she proved to be quite the distraction, in her little tennis skirt with open fly netting fabric. I was glad I decided to spit olive oil all over the table, I tell you what. Might have caused a scene, otherwise.
"A functioning police state needs no police." - William S Burroughs
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
That's cute, thanks.
"A functioning police state needs no police." - William S Burroughs
We need a little levity every now and then considering the gravity of our situation. I'll probably be listening to Johann Straus and swigging Makers Mark when the bombs are dropping nearby.
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
Both versions are great!
Ron Paul for President
I'm gonna need a heated swimming pool.
"A functioning police state needs no police." - William S Burroughs
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
Remember when we only had PETA and Greenpeace terrorists in the headlines? Ok, it isn't Strauss, it isn't even a waltz World premiere on June 7th 2007 in Heiligendamm, Germany. Greenpeace Water Ballet (Music Video)
Ron Paul for President
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
Guns n' roses: I don't care about you "A functioning police state needs no police." - William S Burroughs
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
She's adorable! How does she manage with those little tiny little fingers!
Ron Paul for President
I was thinking the same thing. Those fingers sure were moving though.
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach. Lin Yutang "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." --- William Casey, Director CIA (Quote from internal staff meeting notes 1981)
People should take a hard look at the age of consent laws in the UK, versus the United States. Then take a hard look at the society. When you're done taking a look, look to see who is against children being moral, and responsible. When you figure out who has something to bitch about, it's easy to discern the why. People in power want moral relativism. They want to be able to do what they do, and make it okay in the eyes of the public. When you have no moral standards, at any age, it's easy to make people do what you want.
Dying for old bastards, and their old money, isn't my idea of freedom.
The school loses here by making a big deal out a tiny ring. They look like fools even though they won the court case. The court and judge also lose any respect they once had. They can be "delighted" for now, but they will regret it later. Fools never look too far into the future, if they did they wouldn't do things that come back to bite them in the ass.
God is always good! Whether one is religious or not isn't the heart of this matter. What should disturb everyone is the fact this is a case in the United Kingdom; and thanks be to whatever gawdawful treaties and alliances the governing bodies of the UK decided to sign onto with the EU, British law is overridden by this 'Convention on Human Rights'. How willingly those who 'govern' give over and up a nation's sovereignty boggles the mind. We, here, in America, have given up much in the way of trade to the World Trade Organization. We continually lose when challenged by other nations over our laws. So, when do we expect that other laws, i.e., especially the Bill of Rights, will be overridden by some foreign body made up of people who are not elected by us. When will the UN's idea of no weapons and only the religion they decide? Who gets legal representation? Who is open to search and seizure at any time? Who will make the laws governing our every part of daily life? Who will decide who has to pay so others are equal? And yet the sheeple continue to be led as though they had a ring thru their nose.
#2. To: robin (#0)
The judge ordered Miss Playfoot's father to pay £12,000 towards the school's legal costs.
#3. To: robin (#0)
#4. To: intotheabyss (#3)
My F'n God!, WTF are the outraged parents and people that should be demanding a large turnover in staff at that indoctrination center posing as a school.
#5. To: Esso (#4)
Hey, it's England. Proof that gun control works just as intended.
#6. To: Esso (#4)
#7. To: Dakmar (#6)
#8. To: intotheabyss (#7)
#9. To: Dakmar (#8)
#10. To: Dakmar (#8)
Something like this:
#11. To: intotheabyss (#10)
#12. To: intotheabyss (#9)
I'll probably be listening to Johann Straus and swigging Makers Mark when the bombs are dropping nearby.
#13. To: Dakmar (#12)
#14. To: Dakmar (#12)
#15. To: robin (#14)
This girl is amazing!
#16. To: intotheabyss (#13)
#17. To: Dakmar (#16)
I know a dead parrot when I see it.
#18. To: intotheabyss (#15)
#19. To: robin (#18)
#20. To: robin (#0)
#21. To: robin (#0)
"It was an interesting day." - President Bush, recalling 9/11 [White House, 1/5/02]
#22. To: robin (#0)
Mr Diamond, who also represented Nadia Eweida in the British Airways "cross case", argued that the school's actions violated Lydia's right to "freedom of thought, conscience and religion" under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
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