Missionary Benedictine barred from wearing habit in classroom

[DameAgnes]

It's an old law. Hopefully it will soon be repealed. http://aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/nebraska-nun-barred-from-wearing-habit-in-classroom/?ru=07d9f1e39af8fda86f0d72ef9e21f779

[truthfinder]

I'm absolutely surprised by this - not that the law exist, but that a nun would be teaching in a public school. Maybe an American can give me some insight, but I really couldn't imagine a school board in Canada hiring a nun without backlash even if she didn't wear a habit. At the same time, this law sounds like it affects anyone wanting to wear religious items which would probably include crosses and scapulars.

[Nunsuch]

There have always been sisters (well, since the mid-19th century) teaching in US public schools. This is not widespread, but it has happened, and continues to happen. In the modern era, it generally has not been a problem, since the vast majority of US sisters don't wear habits. I knew a School Sister of Notre Dame who taught in an inner-city public school in Chicago for over 20 years, for example. This started in the 1970s. I know a Sister of St. Joseph who taught as a reading specialist in the Syracuse public schools. These are just examples--there are many others.

In the 19th century, it was VERY common for sisters to wear secular clothing when they traveled, either on shipboard coming to the US from Europe or on trains, stagecoaches, etc. This is clearly documented in dozens of community histories. So the idea of not wearing a habit--even in communities that choose to wear them--is somehow unprecedented or unacceptable under special circumstances, is simply inaccurate.

 

[NadaTeTurbe]

In 2010, France approved a so-called burqa ban that has since been blamed for encouraging Islamophobia and giving Muslim extremists more ammunition to incite hatred. 

no, that was not the case. The law forbid to hide your face in public space, wich is not called "islamophobia" but common sense. 

[DameAgnes]

The Ann Arbor Dominicans do their student teaching in Michigan public schools with their habits.