That’s what it’s supposed to be. But signs are polyvalent. As practiced by Catholics today, unfortunately, in some (many?) instances, Ash Wednesday ashes have become a tribal statement for Easter and Christmas Catholics. The old rule of thumb was that if you find yourself wanting to wear the ashes throughout the day, you should wash them off. If you find yourself wanting to wash them off (out of embarrassment), you should leave them on.
That said, I agree that there is a double-standard— Jew would not be asked to remove a yarmulke. So I think the judge was wrong in this case.
Case in point--Joe Biden!
The old rule of thumb was that if you find yourself wanting to wear the ashes throughout the day, you should wash them off. If you find yourself wanting to wash them off (out of embarrassment), you should leave them on.
Well stated--so well stated, that I wish I'd have said it. NEVER FEAR--I WILL!