LONDON - A teenager whose teachers had stopped her wearing a “purity ring” at school to symbolize her commitment to virginity has lost a High Court fight against the ban.
Lydia Playfoot, 16, says her silver ring is an expression of her faith and had argued in court that it should be exempt from school regulations banning the wearing of jewelry.
“I am very disappointed by the decision this morning by the High Court not to allow me to wear my purity ring to school as an expression of my Christian faith not to have sex outside marriage,” Playfoot said in a statement Monday.
“I believe that the judge’s decision will mean that slowly, over time, people such as school governors, employers, political organizations and others will be allowed to stop Christians from publicly expressing and practicing their faith.”
Series of disputes Playfoot’s legal challenge was the latest in a series of disputes in British schools in recent years over the right of pupils to wear religious symbols or clothing, such as crucifixes and veils.
Last year, the Law Lords rejected Shabina Begum’s appeal for permission to wear a Muslim gown at her school in Luton. That case echoed a debate in France over the banning of Muslim headscarves in state schools.
Playfoot’s parents are key members of the British arm of the American chastity campaign group the Silver Ring Thing, a religious group which urges abstinence among young people.
Those who sign up wear a ring on the third finger of the left hand. It is inscribed with “Thess. 4:3-4,” a reference to a Biblical passage from Thessalonians which reads: “God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin.”
Lawyers for the school denied discrimination and said the purity ring breached its rules on wearing jewelry.
They said allowances were made for Muslim and Sikh pupils only for items integral to their religious beliefs and that, for the same reason, crucifixes were also allowed. But it argued that the purity ring was not an integral part of the Christian faith.
Playfoot said in her statement she would consult her legal team to consider whether to appeal.
what a whiner...i respect her decision to not give it up but it's not like the ring has some special prude-making power that's gonna turn her into Cu's mom if she doesnt wear it
But it argued that the purity ring was not an integral part of the Christian faith.
I have a problem with gov't deciding what is and isn't integral to someone's faith. To me it makes the whole policy flimsy. I could make up a religion right now where Grillz are integral to the faith, and it would have the same right to exist as Christianity. I'm curioius what the problems were in the school that lead to the jewelery ban in the first place, I can't see anything less than people wearing a Mr. T starter kit being a problem.
I'd imagine this is almost more about rebelling against a rule than it is her religious beliefs. Unless the ring gives her super powers to keep her legs crossed than what difference does it make to wear it or not, I'm sure she has already made everyone aware of her virginity.
But it argued that the purity ring was not an integral part of the Christian faith.
I have a problem with gov't deciding what is and isn't integral to someone's faith. To me it makes the whole policy flimsy. I could make up a religion right now where Grillz are integral to the faith, and it would have the same right to exist as Christianity. I'm curioius what the problems were in the school that lead to the jewelery ban in the first place, I can't see anything less than people wearing a Mr. T starter kit being a problem.
I'm going to guess that they don't want students feeling less about themselves because their other classmates are wearing expensive diamond jewelery while they cannot afford it. Kinda like Borat's neighbor.
But it argued that the purity ring was not an integral part of the Christian faith.
I have a problem with gov't deciding what is and isn't integral to someone's faith. To me it makes the whole policy flimsy. I could make up a religion right now where Grillz are integral to the faith, and it would have the same right to exist as Christianity. I'm curioius what the problems were in the school that lead to the jewelery ban in the first place, I can't see anything less than people wearing a Mr. T starter kit being a problem.
I'm going to guess that they don't want students feeling less about themselves because their other classmates are wearing expensive diamond jewelery while they cannot afford it. Kinda like Borat's neighbor.
Dan Lambskin wrote:what a whiner...i respect her decision to not give it up but it's not like the ring has some special prude-making power that's gonna turn her into Cu's mom if she doesnt wear it
Dan Lambskin wrote:what a whiner...i respect her decision to not give it up but it's not like the ring has some special prude-making power that's gonna turn her into Cu's mom if she doesnt wear it
Hey, that ring might have special powers into avoiding her into becoming ACS's mom.
As for the ruling, I think it's folly that schools would ban anyone from sporting religious symbols. They don't have any bearing on secularization of state institutions and if anything, it goes against freedom of religion. It's fairly silly to boast about being a virgin, but I can respect that, even though it makes her seem like she's aspiring to be an old maid.
KCollins1304 wrote: I could make up a religion right now where Grillz are integral to the faith, and it would have the same right to exist as Christianity.
LOL, I can imagine that this could be quite popular...
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by Dan Lambskin » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:02 pm 
