Summary

CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MASSACHUSETTS OUTRAGED BY WINNERS OF HIGH SCHOOL COSTUME CONTEST.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 219634
Story Slug Catholics angry
Location Sharon, Massachusetts
Format PKG
Date 12/7/2001
Archive Time 57:03
TRT 1:33
Supers Sharon, MA Rev. Robert Bullock, Our Lady of Sorrows George Anthony, Principal Sharon High School Andrew Nebenzahl, School committee member Jim Boyd, Reporting
Video Description PASTOR SOT, SHOT OF CHURCH, CU OF CHURCH, PASTOR SOT, SHOT OF HIGH SCHOOL, SHOT OF STUDENTS WALKING, CU OF SCHOOL BOARD, PASTOR SOT, PASTOR WALKING, CU OF SCHOOL FRONT, GRAPHIC OF LETTER, MAN SOT, CU OF STUDENTS WALKING, STUDENT SOT, STUDENT SOT, STUDENT SOT, STUDENTS WALKING, MAN SOT.
Description CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MASSACHUSETTS OUTRAGED BY WINNERS OF HIGH SCHOOL COSTUME CONTEST.
Script THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SHARON MASSACHUSETTS IS OUTRAGED OVER A HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST INVOLVING SEVERAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WHILE THE OFFICIALS AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL HAVE APOLOGIZED -- SOME IN THE CHURCH WANT THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS INVOLVED TO BE PUNISHED. JIM BOYD REPORTS. (TAKE SOT- "We're angry about it, deeply offended by it.") FATHER ROBERT BULLOCK IS THE PASTOR AT OUR LADY OF SORROWS, THE ONLY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SHARON, A COMMUNITY WITH A LARGE JEWISH POPULATION. BULLOCK AND THE MEMBERS OF HIS CONGREGATION WERE OUTRAGED WHEN A FACULTY PANEL AT SHARON HIGH SCHOOL DEEMED THREE STUDENTS, TWO DRESSED AS PREGNANT NUNS AND ONE AS AN IMPREGNATING PRIEST THE WINNERS OF A HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST. (TAKE SOT- "This is a mockery of a Catholic religious persons and it was rewarded by the faculty.") WHAT FOLLOWED WERE MEETINGS BETWEEN BULLOCK AND SCHOOL AND TOWN OFFICIALS. THEN CAME A LETTER OF APOLOGY FROM THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND SHARON HIGH PRINCIPAL, SAYING, 'WE DEEPLY AND SINCERELY REGRET OUR COLLECTIVE FAILURE IN THIS CASE. IT IS OUR DUTY TO MODEL APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR FOR OUR STUDENTS AND TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP AND SENSITIVITY WHEN ANY GROUP IS TARGETED FOR RIDICULE OR MISTREATMENT.' (TAKE SOT- "We're going to learn from it and move ahead. That is our focus, to focus on the future and make sure it doesn't happen again.") MANY STUDENTS AT SHARON HIGH FAIL TO SEE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE INCIDENT. (SOT-STUDENT- "Come on it's a costume.") (SOT-STUDENT- "It was funny but then it was wrong at the same time.") (SOT-STUDENT- "I don't think it was really that big of a deal.") (SOT- "I hope we can use this as a teachable message. A way for other people to recognize that the sometimes innocent conduct can be very hurtful.")
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