[Cicero]

I can think of about a hundred arguments on both sides.

On the one hand, it certainly isn't fair to ban the expectant mother from the ceremony but allow the father to participate. That's what used to be called the "double standard." Shades of Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter."

On the other hand, it doesn't set a good moral example to let a pregnant unmarried girl cross the stage for her schoolmates to cheer. Being a pregnant mother is a lot more visible than being a father.

On the third hand, you have to give the kids credit for not running out and secretly aborting the baby so their graduation ceremony wouldn't be messed up.

On the fourth hand. . . .

[GraceCoolidge]

You summarized my reaction perfectly as well.

[PresbyRev]

If the Catholic Church is anti-abortion/pro-life and seeks to promotes the 'culture of life' why the hell penalize a girl who opted not to abort her fetus?

What is gained, after the fact, of denigrating or shunning a pregnant, unmarried teen from her graduation ceremony? Is that action going to stop other lusty teens from having sex? Perhaps it would simply encourage the quick and easy solution of abortion?

I am sure St. Jude's does not want to encourage 'underclass' behavior - getting pregnant in high school is a badge of womanhood, etc. ---- but there certainly seems to me to be valid arguments for more discretion on the part of the school and allowing the girl's priest and parents to deal with her rather than contributing to a public spectacle

Finally - if the young lady in question was banned from her graduation ceremony - the father sure as hades should not have been there either - complete double-standard that betrays the entire stance of the school on the matter.

[CitizenM]

Yes, she could have had an abortion, another sin. Or the boy should also have been barred from the graduation ceremony. Or they could have used protection. There are a lot of other arguments here. However, they all begin with the fact that this girl chose to have sexual relations and now wants everyone to overlook that because she “has rights.”

Should we stop reprimanding our children when they steal cookies from the cookie jar because they have a right to eat? When a child does wrong, there must be some disciplines that are in order.

I am sorry but this is another case of a teen stubbornly facing off with authority with no regard for principles. And to think she had her mother’s support makes it especially troublesome. Granted the girl completed her studies, and granted it was probably difficult. She will have many challenges ahead that I hope she successfully overcomes them without expecting that everyone will grant her special consideration because she chose not to adhere to any moral standards. She deliberately chose to participate in an act that she knew was a morally questionable activity, and certainly not condoned in a Catholic high school.

These kids who feel they can do whatever they want and not have to pay any consequences for their actions, and then hide behind some imagined “aura of political correctness,” that the public has to accept are only fooling themselves. They might get some temporary support, but they also become the target for more laughter and criticism.

What she did was morally wrong (let alone considered sinful by the Catholic Church), and to flaunt her protest in the face of those who disapproved, made it doubly wrong.

So many children are not growing up to be ladies and gentlemen anymore and are not learning to accept the error of their ways and make amends. They are like angry warriors always jamming their supposed “rights” down our throats, and expecting to be forgiven for their purposeful “mistakes” while never, ever showing any measure of humbleness or recognition that there will be repercussions for their defiance.

What a shame that she felt her rights were more important than the rights of all the other students who did not want their special day marred by one who chose to ignore the rules. This is typical of the liberal viewpoint and mantra: Everyone else is unimportant just so I have my way - my rights are paramount - and you have to swallow that or you are not being fair!

[Calvin Locke]

... it doesn't set a good moral example to let a pregnant unmarried girl cross the stage for her schoolmates to cheer.

Peggy Noonan wrote that about 15 years ago. Some HS graduation that she attended.

[tiki]

I'm with you. Yes, no, Yes, no.

We have been warned by another teen that one of our youth in the church is pregnant. Our priest announced it to everyone and has said that, though he doesn't know who it is, we will have a baby shower. She may have made a wrong choice but by remaining pregnant she has made a right choice.

[lodwick]

If only he'd kept it in his hand...

[Nowhere Man]

I see you points, it is a Solomon like decision. Of course we cannot get into the young lady's mind, but I do believe in redemption after one makes mistakes by correcting them and/or doing the best not to do it again. As you put it, she could have aborted the baby instead of carrying it to full term which is the case here. Her intent to graduate hopefully shows that she wants to make something of herself and/or do the right thing. As to the students cheering, I hope it is because she wants to over come the mistake she has gotten herself into and not glorifying single motherhood. I think stigmatizing this young lady and her future child is wrong as long, again, if she realized she made a mistake in poor judgement and wants to do the right thing even if she needs a little helping hand up. On the other hand, (I think we need an octopus here B-)), if she keeps on making the same mistake over and over again, well he should get the message that she is doing wrong.

So, yes, we do have a condundrum here but from what I could tell, she seems to want to do the right thing and own up to her mistake so I would let her graduate. Unless I get morei nfo, I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt here.

[cherry]

yes, we can be quick to condemn young pregnant teenagers, but at least they carried their child....

I know of a recent incident where a young girl became pregnant, carried the child, then rightfully and courageously gave the baby up for adoption, only to have profound complications weeks lately that left her unable to bear anymore children...ever....she is a teenager....