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Catholic Teen Defends Her Right to Attend Mass: Margeaux Graham Chooses Faith Over Honors
Catholic Online ^ | 6/6/2012 | Stacy Trasancos

Posted on 06/07/2012 11:31:41 AM PDT by iowamark

While the nation discusses and debates the attacks on religious freedom, a high school junior in Florida has put her academic reputation on the line to stand up for her faith. Margeaux Graham was selected this year to participate in The American Legion Auxiliary's prestigious 9-day leadership event, the "Girls State" program. When Margeaux learned she would not be allowed to attend Sunday mass during the event, she decided to decline the honor...

Margeaux Graham was selected this year to participate in a prestigious 9-day leadership event in her state's capital. The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) of Florida has an annual "Girls State" program whereby the participants "learn how to participate in the functioning of their state's government in preparation for their future roles as responsible adult citizens." It is a "nonpartisan program that teaches young women responsible citizenship and love for God and Country. They are awarded 3 college credits and rare notoriety in the college application process.

Margeaux is a faithful Catholic. That is, she takes her obligation to attend Mass as just that - her obligation. When she inquired about nearby Catholic churches to plan where she would attend, she was told by the staff that the only opportunity any of the girls would have to participate in a Sunday service is to attend the "non-offensive", non-denominational service offered for all at the conference. The event takes place at Florida State University and the cathedral is nearby the campus. [see update] A member of the national American Legion even contacted the Auxiliary to arrange for a priest to celebrate Mass on campus, and this accommodation was denied.

(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: americanlegion; arth; catholic; margeauxgraham; religiousfreedom
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To: ELS

Yup.


41 posted on 06/07/2012 1:48:45 PM PDT by pgyanke (Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)
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To: strider44
I was a Boys State rep for my high school in 1987. I’m sure it was one of the credentials that helped me earn a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship. This girl is foolish not to go. Are you saying god would we be upset she missed one Mass for this honor? Doesn’t he have bigger concerns running the universe? She can go to confession an extra time if she feels guilty. Self-inflicted trauma.

Good for you... if you were her you'd betray your "offensive" faith for worldly gain.

If you actually made it into the military, I'm thankful I never had to suffer serving with you.

42 posted on 06/07/2012 1:49:02 PM PDT by AAABEST (Et lux in tenebris lucet: et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt)
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To: iowamark

Americans! Fire off a letter or email to the American Legion complaining about this. I did. The American Legion’s motto is “For God and Country.” Surely, the Legion should hear about this from us.


43 posted on 06/07/2012 1:57:27 PM PDT by oneolcop (Lead, Follow or Get the Hell Out of the Way!)
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To: iowamark
One thing we need to get straight. There is no such thing as "non-denominational!!!!!"

Whenever anyone uses this term, it usually translates to mean some non-dogmatic species of "non-Catholic Christian" which is itself a "denomination."

If anything, secularist-oriented "non-denominational" organizations promote precisely the kind of religious indifferentism that kills already half-dead consciences and provides them with a pseudo-religious rationale to "justify" burning a pinch of incense to Caesar.......sometimes even at the expense of attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!

44 posted on 06/07/2012 1:57:27 PM PDT by Sons of Union Vets (No taxation without representation!)
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To: Hieronymus; strider44

Given the strength of the young lady’s Catholic faith, she’s probably applying to Catholic Colleges and Universities. I have a friend who was an admissions counselor at a well-known Dominican College in the Northeast. According to my friend, the admissons committee is much more impressed with a well-written two paragraph essay from the heart about what the applicant has sacrficed for the good of others, rather than pages and pages of of “back slaps” congradulating the applicant for activities that are obviously intended to pad the resume. I can think of few greater sacrifices for a teenager than to give up something as special as the ALA Girls State in order to attend Catholic Mass and share the body of Christ.


45 posted on 06/07/2012 2:22:35 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: pgyanke

“I am abhorred?” I have never heard that exact usage.... “I am appalled,” perhaps? Otherwise, her letter was very well-written.


46 posted on 06/07/2012 2:34:13 PM PDT by aberaussie
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; SumProVita; ...

Ping!


47 posted on 06/07/2012 2:36:34 PM PDT by NYer (Without justice, what else is the State but a great band of robbers? - St. Augustine)
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To: iowamark; Chode; NYer

“”non-offensive”, non-denominational service offered for all at the conference”

non offensive? Non offensive? Had this chick been wearing a hijab and wanted to attend the friday night terrorist meeting at the local mosque you’d better believe she’d been allowed.


48 posted on 06/07/2012 3:08:15 PM PDT by Morgana (I only come here to see what happens next. It normally does.)
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To: Morgana
she should go and simply disappear when the time for Mass comes...
49 posted on 06/07/2012 3:15:09 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: iowamark
This reminds me of an experience I had years ago as a Girl Scout leader. There was a giant camporee for the 75th anniversary of GS. They had arranged for a “non-denominational” service and the Catholic troops were told that it would have to do for us.

When the Catholic troops all started to pull out, they changed their tune real quick and brought in a priest for Mass. Of course, they arranged for it to be very early in the morning, probably as punishment for us standing up for our faith.

And yes, the GS are a left wing organization and getting more and more that way as the years go by. I wish I had known it at the time, and I probably wouldn't have gotten involved with it.

50 posted on 06/07/2012 4:25:19 PM PDT by Aunt Polgara
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To: iowamark; SuziQ
"for those who honor Me I will honor" (1 Samuel 2:30)

For an explanation of the relevance of the above quote to the Margeaux Graham story, read about Eric Liddell at the 1924 Summer Olympics, or watch the 1981 film Chariots of Fire.

51 posted on 06/07/2012 4:29:59 PM PDT by SirKit (Truth is Precious---The Truth is of the Essence of God)
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To: strider44; netmilsmom; Hegewisch Dupa
And even going an extra time to confession won't work.

If you deliberately commit a sin while thinking, "it's o.k., I can just go to Confession later," you just committed the additional sin of presumption.

You didn't think it would really be that easy, did you? "The Lord would see right through such a cheap trick as that!" < /Monty Python voice >

52 posted on 06/07/2012 5:44:00 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGS Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: AnAmericanMother

:)


53 posted on 06/07/2012 5:46:20 PM PDT by netmilsmom (Romney scares me. Obama is the freaking nightmare that is so bad you are afraid to go back to sleep)
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To: iowamark
and intentionally keep religion out of our program
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Religious neutrality is IMPOSSIBLE! Such a state can not exist in the mind of any sentient being. This is axiomatic.

Therefore......Keeping religion our of their program teaches a profound religiously NON-neutral lessons:

-— Religious observance is so shameful it must be hidden as if it were a bathroom activity.

-— That the religion godless secularism is to be honored above God-centered religion.

-—That a lukewarm generic “one-size-fits-all” religion is superior to the child's family faith traditions. ( We know what Christ does with the lukewarm. He spits them out of His mouth!)

54 posted on 06/07/2012 6:24:40 PM PDT by wintertime (Reforming a government K-12 school is like reforming an abortion mill.)
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To: Morgana
non offensive? Non offensive?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Good point about the hijab!

And....What does Christ do with the generically lukewarm? Answer: He spits it out of His mouth!

55 posted on 06/07/2012 6:26:46 PM PDT by wintertime (Reforming a government K-12 school is like reforming an abortion mill.)
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To: AAABEST

Wow. Lotta fuss for missing one Mass. And yup I actually made it in the military. Major US Army, UH-60 pilot, 3 combat tours, several commands. Married, 3 kids. Managed to do it all despite missing Mass a few times. If god can’t forgive me then I guess its going to be hot down there.

lighten up man.


56 posted on 06/08/2012 6:36:42 AM PDT by strider44
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To: strider44

She is only in the wrong here if she later whines about the consequences. If she holds to her choice and willingly accepts the loss, she is absolutely right in what she did.

She has her priorities and stood by them. Why would anyone (other than a lib) disparage that?


57 posted on 06/08/2012 4:02:18 PM PDT by HushTX (I make libs rage quit.)
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To: egfowler3

Any organization that is not overtly and purposefully conservative will become liberal/socialist over time. This includes the American Legion and the Girl Scouts.


58 posted on 06/09/2012 3:30:02 AM PDT by Haiku Guy ("The problem with Internet Quotes is that you never know if they are real" -- Abraham Lincoln)
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