Niagara Catholic Board Issues Statement Following Prayer [for Protection of People of Israel] Read to Students Last Week

Newstalk 610 CKTB ^ | 5/25/21 | Bonnie Heslop

[marshmallow]

The Niagara Catholic School Board has issued a statement after a prayer asking God to protect the people of Israel was read last week.

The prayer was read out during virtual school on Thursday at Saint Michael Catholic High School asking God to protect Israel from threats from those who seek to harm.

The board says it understands a petition has been launched, and it wants residents to know the prayer was a mistake and had no malicious intent.

They have issued a statement from school officials along with an apology.

"On Thursday, May 20, a prayer was shared with students at Saint Michael Catholic High School through in the Virtual Learning Environment that caused distress and offense to many in the school community. The prayer was found online by the school’s chaplaincy leader, Jolene Smith. The role of a Catholic high school and school board is to educate students on global issues, without taking sides in complex geopolitical events. This is what happened on Thursday when the prayer, asking God to protect Israel from threats from those who seek to harm, was shared as the morning prayer and quite rightfully upset many in the school and Niagara community.

We understand that there is a petition circulating asking “the Niagara Catholic District School Board to stop in-class pro-Israel and pro-Zionist prayers.” We assure the Niagara community that no petition is needed. We share the concerns of the individual who created the petition, and those who have signed and shared it. We will continue to begin and end our days in prayer, and assure you that those prayers will focus on inclusivity, community and the hope for a better tomorrow. This morning’s prayer at Saint Michael Catholic High School is a multifaith prayer, led by Ms. Smith. We hope will be a......

[Prince of Space]

We’ve always prayed for Israel’s survival at Mass during the intentions part. This is unbelievable to me. I might live to see Revelations coming to pass in my lifetime after all (I’ll be 68 in October).

[silverleaf]

I suppose this means the Psalms of David and all the prophets of the Bible will now be banned as pro-Israel and zionist

[Scrambler Bob]

when the prayer, asking God to protect Israel from threats from those who seek to harm,
= = =

So, to make up for that prayer, our new prayer will be to ask Got to inflict harm on Israel.

[SunkenCiv]

"On Thursday, May 20, a prayer was shared with students at Saint Michael Catholic High School through in the Virtual Learning Environment that caused distress and offense to many in the school community. The prayer was found online by the school’s chaplaincy leader, Jolene Smith. The role of a Catholic high school and school board is to educate students on global issues, without taking sides in complex geopolitical events. This is what happened on Thursday when the prayer, asking God to protect Israel from threats from those who seek to harm, was shared as the morning prayer and quite rightfully upset many in the school and Niagara community."

Just the ones who hate Jews, and while they're at it, hate that school.