Teen Loses Court Fight Over Chastity Ring

U.K. School Claimed Ring Marking Vow Of Abstinence Was Not Religious Symbol, Ran Afoul Of Uniform Code

(AP)  A teenage girl banned from wearing a chastity ring in class lost a legal challenge Monday against her former school.

Lydia Playfoot had argued that the ban at the Millais School in Horsham, about 40 miles south of London, was an "unlawful interference" with her right to express her Christian faith.

But deputy High Court judge Michael Supperstone disagreed and supported her school's contention that the ring was not an integral part of the Christian faith.

Playfoot, 16, wears a ring as a sign of her commitment to abstinence from sex until marriage. Many Christian teenagers worldwide wear the rings, which were inspired by "The Silver Ring Thing," an abstinence program launched in the United States in 1996.

The ruling "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," Playfoot said in a statement.

The school had said the ring fell outside its uniform policy, which makes exceptions for Muslims wearing head scarves and Sikhs wearing steel bracelets.

Playfoot's lawyer, Paul Diamond, had told the court that secular authorities, including school officials, "lack capacity to rule on the correct manifestation of religious belief" and the ban contravened Playfoot's right to religious expression.

Playfoot said she was considering an appeal.

[redfiveuk]

Typical of the stupidity that goes on in the UK on a daily basis. Moslem girls at the same school ARE ALLOWED to wear headscarf%u2019s and bracelets but a Christian school girl is denied the right to express her religious belief of remaining a virgin until marriage. As always in the UK its the native Brits that are penalised. When oh when will this politically correct rubbish end. We will either be forced to become Moslems or we will become very very right wing.

[gunnerv1]

I can Guarantee that if a Muslim wants to do something of this nature, they would bend over backwards to accommodate her.

[randalds]

If she needs a ring to remind her to stay a virgin then she has more problems then the one of the school letting her wear it.

[michellem99-2009]

I read it on the bbc site. I would not wear it. I felt bad she lost. But her walk with Jesus is personal. I can see the the eeason. It is worse here in Amreica. Even tho we have sep of church and state. I did said grace at table in school but no one heard me. I wore a cross next to my shin. Sinse the girls who are Muslin who wear head coving have all the girls wear uniform scarves with their school uniforms. She can wear it when not at school.

[toldyouso21]

She can't wear her ring but she like many other students can wear $200 designer jeans.
Freakin Liberals double standards.
They are determined to destory any good.
Posted by republic1776 at 06:56 PM : Jul 16, 2007

Try to get a clue. The girl lives in ENGLAND. She more than likely wears a school uniform as this is required in most public schools. That being said, this is not a business of Americans or of Democrats or Republicans. But from just a human perspective, people are trying to take repression and controlling others too far. No doubt the tone of this article did sound as if it was coming from the States but it is not. Looks like some barristers and judges in England are taking their cues from America.

Moslem girls were being denied their headcovers just last year with even Blair opposing them wearing them. But they should be allowed to, as should Sikhs and yes, little Christian girls who want to wear a small symbol of something. Crucifixes are not in the bible either, but they do represent the Christian faith now, for many people. School officials should concentrate on the clothing and leave the other accoutrements to each individual as long as they don't distract or harm anyone. This is about control and it is ugly even when the supposedly 'liberal' side does it.

[SIDNEYWILLIAMSMD]

Wrong: Schools systems err by permitting headdresses, scarves or other signs of religion to one group to the exclusion of others. Put the kids in uniforms and drop the subject. No foot washes, no prayer rooms, no altering the teaching of history, particularly the middle ages to avoid offending the islamics. The came to England and the USA to join the culture not role back history and turn the English and Americans into islamics, or did they? If they came with that attitude, and express dissatisfaction or disloyalty to the country, get the ships out and send the *********** back to the sand dunes from whence they came. Good riddance.

this isn't about her virginity...this is about christinan fundamentalism. so what if she wants to stay a virgin..i think its good, but it doesn't give her the right to break school policies regarding jewelry. It doesn't say in the bible that a girl has to wear that..in the koran, it does say that women must be covered.

[drummer94]

A young person trying to hold on to her values- a rare thing these days- and she gets slammed for it. When did this rock start spinning backwards?

[ladyd1800]

If she want's to wear a ring let her wear the ring. But don't knock the guy who wears a turban, cause that's his thing. Or the Wiccan who wears a pentagram (not satanist) because it's their thing. If it truely pertains to their religon what does it matter? As long as everyone can express their faith peacefully.

[olebd]

I bet she doesn't get asked out on dates :)

[oxygen70]

This judge should be removed and made to work at a gas station! As soon as someone tries to do something right they're punished for it. Judges have too much power and if christians would make their voice heard a little bit louder things could get done about these kinds of judges! It's true chrstians are the only group left that you can make fun of, abuse or look down on and get away with it!

[dontbasucka]

Get a tattoo Lydia. Maybe of Washington crossing the Delaware.

Your point has been made Lydia and the line drawn for all to see.

[krannawitter]

If this girl would have been any other religion you people would have been cheering the decision.

If it was the muslim girls trying to wear the scarves (pivotal to their religion) who had lost this battle you would have all been on here saying "*** straight" and drinking another beer.

If it would have been a satanist trying to sport a pentagram necklace and she lost you would all be saying "Hurray for the judge! May the girl burn in hell for being an evil sinner".

But deny a christian girl the ability to wear a ring bragging about being a prude and all hell breaks loose.

To tell you how pivotal this ring is to christianity, I can say that as a former christian i have never once heard of a purity ring. You would think being a christian and being a virgin would be enough to make her happy, but obviously not since she feels the need to flaunt both to the world. Isn't religion supposed to be a private and personal matter of inner faith anyways?

[republic1776]

We're losing all of our given rights.
Vote Libertarian, out the dems and repubs

[republic1776]

She can't wear her ring but she like many other students can wear $200 designer jeans.
Freakin Liberals double standards.
They are determined to destory any good.

[rushlimpdrug]

Agnim - your manner of expressing your thought I do not agree with but your overall message makes sense.
If I understand this correctly, this ruling comes from the same country that said they couldn't kill a cow 'cause it was "sacred"?
holy cow!
I just wonder how long it will be till the U.S.A. starts having "sacred cows" roaming city streets.
On second thought I should be cussing up a storm.

[ago5675]

Her ring is a symbol of her intent to remain pure and is definitely a symbol of her faith. If a head scarf and bracelets can be construed as symbols of faith, then the ring should also be considered as such. It has gotten to the point, almost worldwide, that you can declare yourself to be any faith EXCEPT Christian and be wonderfully accepted and catered to. Leave this young woman alone. If she needs funds to help with contesting this ignorant ruling, I'll gladly help.

[myidoncbs]

Strange that in the midst of complaining about the lack of religious tolerance (the supposedly religious ring), the first two commenters have expressed blatant intolerance for another religion.

Ever since 9/11, all the schools in both the US have gone insane, practicing a ridiculous policy of "zero tolerance" of many things. For example, "zero drug tolerance" means kids get suspended for having aspirin; "zero weapons tolerance" means kids get suspended for having finger-nail clippers; etc. This situation is extremely mild, by comparison.

The school in this article has a strict dress code, requiring kids to wear a uniform, and disallowing personal stuff like jewelry, etc., UNLESS they are primary religious symbols. So, the only argument is whether or not this "chastity ring" is a primary symbol of her religion. The court ruled that it is not.

Apparently, however, some Christians feel the need to assert the "right" to make everything a "primary religious symbol". Don't you think that's carrying things a bit too far?

[slider74]

I agree that there is a point of freedom of expression and all but there has to be a point where we have to draw the line on expression and what is accepted practices and cultural norms.

I am proud that someone is willing to stand up for their beliefs but I don't know if this is the right example to show to the public on this case.

[slider74]

I agree that there is a point of freedom of expression and all but there has to be a point where we have to draw the line on expression and what is accepted practices and cultural norms.

I am proud that someone is willing to stand up for their beliefs but I don't know if this is the right example to show to the public on this case.