It doesn’t matter. It’s far more associated with the Roman Catholic religion. How many Catholics are estimated to wear rosaries as an act of religion?
Free Exercise of religion means an individual can be their religion anyplace they want without governmental influence. I didn’t read that this was a private school.
I gangs adopt Sunday morning meetings, does that mean police can stop church services?
I agree. I was just pointing out that the fact is accurate.
How many Catholics are estimated to wear rosaries as an act of religion?
As a percentage, not that many. Most who do are Latin American charismatics. There's a demographic similarity (e.g., young Salvadoran men) between this group and gang members, hence the mixed message.
The wearing of rosaries in shiny metals has caught on among Southern black men, whose participation in Catholicism is near zero. This is because they're known to be a gangster symbol.
All this is just sociological commentary, not intended to suggest I agree with the police action here. If the boy is a gangster planning to cause trouble, concealing his rosary won't make any difference.
Not many that I am aware of.
...This latter point is something to bear in mind in the case of wearing a rosary around the neck. In the first place, while not unknown, it is not common Catholic practice.
Second, in relatively recent times, certain controversial public figures have popularized the fashion of wearing the rosary as a necklace, and not precisely in order to "do all to the glory of God." It would also appear that in some parts of the United States and elsewhere, wearing rosary beads around the neck has become a gang-related badge of identification.
Hence, while a Catholic may wear a rosary around the neck for a good purpose, he or she should consider if the practice will be positively understood in the cultural context in which the person moves. If any misunderstanding is likely, then it would be better to avoid the practice.
Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Real Catholics don’t wear their rosaries. It’s considered desecratory (I think I just made another word up!).
Well, lifelong Catholic with 12 years of Catholic schooling and years of growing up around plenty of devout blue haired ladies who loved to pray the rosary and I can say this: I have never seen a Catholic wear rosary beads. Nope. Not ever. They are carried in a pouch or box when not in use and held in the hands when being used. Not saying it never happens, just that it's not commonly done. They are not a fashion item to Catholics.
I’ve never seen a Catholic who prays the rosary wear it around his or her neck. A rosary is not a piece of jewelry.