Tolerance in dress code

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 31, 2003

* I was appalled and embarrassed to read about the poor administration of the Regina High School dress code (NCR, Oct. 3). Clearly a hijab is not merely "self-expression" but a mandate of faith for practicing Muslim women. Are Christian girls prohibited from wearing crosses or crucifixes at school? According to the article, the administration desires that the uniform code reflect their Catholic identity. But as far as I know, Catholics identify with the gospels' message of inclusion, not the Old Testament rigidity of exclusion that Jesus was trying to reform.

The administration at the high school seems to be mirroring the hate propagated by the Bush administration toward Muslim and Arabic peoples. This hate can be seen in our country's foreign policy toward Israel and Palestine and other areas in the near and Middle East. Regina High School could embrace the diversity in their school, thereby fostering the Catholic values of unity, charity and understanding.

RACHEL E. MAHLIK

Roeland Park, Kan.

* The main purpose of Catholic schools is to foster the following of Christ as understood in the Catholic tradition. Catholic schools seek primarily to promote Catholic identity and values and only secondarily religious and cultural diversity. Thus, Patricia Morrison's commentary was totally off base.

As a former president of our local Catholic school board, I supported our principal's decision to expel a student who wouldn't follow our dress code in regard to body piercing. I applaud Sr. Maureen Burke's decision "to maintain the Catholic character of the school" and not allow the wearing of the hijab.

Catholic schools have a responsibility to not force Catholic religious practices on their non-Catholic students. In our Catholic school the non-Catholic students are not required to join in the praying of the rosary. However--and here's where Morrison goes astray--Catholic schools have no legal, religious or moral responsibility to allow non-Catholic students to practice and promote their religious practices.

SPENCER STOPA

Alamagordo, N.M.