TOTALLY GEEKED!

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

RE: Rhode Island Teachers Sue To Observe Good Friday

Dona Worry Be Happy · Vette's SS!!

But it says that they gave up good friday as a school holiday. . . It also says that as long as they provide 24 hours notice, they can take religious holidays off. Or am I misunderstanding it?
Either way, it sounds like the teachers are trying to make a statement, not like they actually intend to celebrate the holiday.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

It is not up to the school district to tell people what religious holidays are important enough to merit a day off, or whether or not their attendance at religious service is "required".

It is not the business of any government entity to assess the importance or significance of a holy day. That's stupid.

They put 3 religious holidays back on the calendar and then allowed Jewish teachers to take theirs off anyway, but won't allow the Christians to do the same when the contract specifically allows for 2 days off for religious observance. What OTHER school day would a Christian need off? Tell me please.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

This is from another article on the matter -

The teachers claim that their Jewish colleagues were allowed to use their leave days to observe Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah last fall - and those requests were granted "without question, further inquiry or scrutiny," the complaint states.
But beginning last month, the plaintiffs say they made their requests to take Good Friday off well in advance of the one-day notice requirement under the collective bargaining agreement. Administrators denied their requests, the teachers say.
"Some or all of the requesting plaintiffs were told by administration officials that the 'religious observance' provision did not apply to Good Friday because no specific attendance at a religious mass is required by any Christian religion during the school day," the complaint states.
"Good Friday is considered to be among the holiest and most important days in the Christian faith, second perhaps only to Easter," the teachers continue.
"Contrary to the offensive assertions made by the defendants, there are strict requirements that faithful Christians believe they must attend to on Good Friday.
"For example, Christians are required to observe Good Friday in deep prayer, which many practitioners traditionally feel compelled to observe together in church.
"In addition, from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., and in addition to remaining in deep prayer and reflection, religious obligations on Good Friday also require adherents to remain silent in recognition that according to their faith Christ was put to death during that time."
According to the Bible, Jesus spent six hours hanging from the cross. During the last three, from noon until 3, night fell and Jesus said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" before he died.
The teachers point out that most churches do offer Good Friday services and other religious observances - which they believe their faith compels them to attend during the school day, whether the church specifically requires it or not.
"Upon information and belief, no such scrutiny was applied to members of other faiths who requested - and were granted - absences for other religious holidays, which may also not specifically require attendance at whatever the Cranston Public Schools purports to classify as services or required services," the complaint states.
The district even went so far as to demand proof that services were scheduled - and denied the leave requests when the teachers showed their churches' calendars, the educators claim.

Read more -
www.courthousenews.com/2015/03/18/r-i-teachers-peeved-over-good-friday-slight.htm

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
And the weather has nothing to do with whether a teacher can take the religious personal days in their contract.
But it does when the contract says the day off is when you are required to be at church during the school hours to get it off. Christians are not required to be at church during the day and most of the NE school systems have make the days up so why not Good Friday?

Why not Memorial Day?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Domestic Engineer wrote:
So what Christian holiday "requires" one to attend a religious service? None that I can think of.

What does "require" mean in terms of faith? Do you think EVERY Jewish teacher that took Rosh Hashanah off went to temple? Very doubtful.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Or every Jewish Doctor who had to work etc? Btw I am sure they could worship after work. But the contact says what ut says so if has to apply across the board to all of them.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

It not only violates the contract, but the lawsuit claims the refusal also violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act and the Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I agree with this quote from the president of the teacher's alliance -

“If the Cranston School Committee wants to open schools on important religious holidays, they must honor and respect their employees’ religious beliefs” CTA President Lizbeth Larkin states in the release. “I wish they had not opened school on the Jewish Holy days and Good Friday, but since they made that decision they should not be telling Christians of all denominations that Good Friday is not important enough to merit a religious leave day.”

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I have never heard that Christians are supposed to be silent from noon-3 pm. Has anyone else ever heard this?

And clearly no one making the decision has ever done the stations of the cross in a Catholic Church. DD would do it every year and it lasted forever!

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Mellow Momma wrote:
I have never heard that Christians are supposed to be silent from noon-3 pm. Has anyone else ever heard this?

And clearly no one making the decision has ever done the stations of the cross in a Catholic Church. DD would do it every year and it lasted forever!

Yeah, I said this upthread.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I don't know about others but I know my heart doctor stops what ever he is doing at his prayer times and prays. Does his ritual, prays and then comes back.

I have learned to schedule appointments around his prayer times.

I don't know anything really about other denominations so I don't know about the stations of the cross or any thing else like that.

I have never heard of the silence thing from 12-3 but I guess it has to do with the totally darkness when Jesus gave up His ghost.

We have a bible study we do from Palm Sunday to Easter. But we do it on our own.

ed11563 · Guru

When I was in middle school, the public schools were open on the Jewish High Holy Days, and about 20% of the students were out.

Some teachers scheduled major mid-term exams those days ... then they were forced to give make-up exams the next week ... then they were told not to do that any more.

SO the started to use those days for intensive "teaching to the test" while the Jewish students were out.

furious

I hope that doesn't happen any more.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

It's a conspiracy!!!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
I don't know about others but I know my heart doctor stops what ever he is doing at his prayer times and prays. Does his ritual, prays and then comes back.

I have learned to schedule appointments around his prayer times.

I don't know anything really about other denominations so I don't know about the stations of the cross or any thing else like that.

I have never heard of the silence thing from 12-3 but I guess it has to do with the totally darkness when Jesus gave up His ghost.

We have a bible study we do from Palm Sunday to Easter. But we do it on our own.

Protestants are much more easy going! biggrin

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I don't remember any religious holiday being off except Christmas and Thanksgiving.

And like I have said, I attended a private, Christian school.

If the schools were to work around everyone's religious days, the schedules would be crazy.

Ed, it is my understanding that Jewish holidays begin at sundown. Is that true for all of them? Just out of curiosity.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I don't know about others but I know my heart doctor stops what ever he is doing at his prayer times and prays. Does his ritual, prays and then comes back.

I have learned to schedule appointments around his prayer times.

I don't know anything really about other denominations so I don't know about the stations of the cross or any thing else like that.

I have never heard of the silence thing from 12-3 but I guess it has to do with the totally darkness when Jesus gave up His ghost.

We have a bible study we do from Palm Sunday to Easter. But we do it on our own.

Protestants are much more easy going!

I'm not Protestant. I'm Pentecostal.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I don't know about others but I know my heart doctor stops what ever he is doing at his prayer times and prays. Does his ritual, prays and then comes back.

I have learned to schedule appointments around his prayer times.

I don't know anything really about other denominations so I don't know about the stations of the cross or any thing else like that.

I have never heard of the silence thing from 12-3 but I guess it has to do with the totally darkness when Jesus gave up His ghost.

We have a bible study we do from Palm Sunday to Easter. But we do it on our own.

Protestants are much more easy going!

I'm not Protestant. I'm Pentecostal.

Same thing with a lot of shouting! wink

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Shouting, dancing, tambourines and of course Holy Rolling!!!

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

But NO SNAKES!!!

We are not mountain snake handling variety.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
I don't remember any religious holiday being off except Christmas and Thanksgiving.

And like I have said, I attended a private, Christian school.

If the schools were to work around everyone's religious days, the schedules would be crazy.

Ed, it is my understanding that Jewish holidays begin at sundown. Is that true for all of them? Just out of curiosity.

Thanksgiving is a national holiday, not a religious one.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

To me, it is religious. A day set aside to be and give thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of life.

Yes, be thankful all year.

WYSIWYG · Guru

The school board should give each religion two scheduled days off for observation of religious holidays. Let it be done by vote of the teachers of the various religions. All the Christians pick the two days off they want. All the Jews pick the two days off they want. And so on, and so forth.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

WYSIWYG wrote:
The school board should give each religion two scheduled days off for observation of religious holidays. Let it be done by vote of the teachers of the various religions. All the Christians pick the two days off they want. All the Jews pick the two days off they want. And so on, and so forth.

The School Board cannot just change the language of the contract. Any contract language change has to be negotiated by with the School and the Union. And, that will not be done until the current contract expires and the new one is negotiated. Yes, they can attempt to put in new language at that time. But, if the School is not following the current contract, they are setting themselves up for trouble.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

lilyofcourse wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I don't know about others but I know my heart doctor stops what ever he is doing at his prayer times and prays. Does his ritual, prays and then comes back.

I have learned to schedule appointments around his prayer times.

I don't know anything really about other denominations so I don't know about the stations of the cross or any thing else like that.

I have never heard of the silence thing from 12-3 but I guess it has to do with the totally darkness when Jesus gave up His ghost.

We have a bible study we do from Palm Sunday to Easter. But we do it on our own.

Protestants are much more easy going!

I'm not Protestant. I'm Pentecostal.

Protestant is a broad term that covers almost all religions that find their origins in the Reformation - at the time pepole started to break away from the Roman Catholic Church. Long story short...Protestant is a word that covers almost all religions that are christian and not Catholic. Pentecostals are Protestants.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians...all Protestants. All different but all Protestants.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Yes, I agree with MM; Pentecostals are Protestants. Every organized Christian religion is protestant except Catholics.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

My confirmation class instructor was our pastor. He had his doctorate in theology. Let's just say he was thorough.

Bonny22Pye · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Yes, I agree with MM; Pentecostals are Protestants. Every organized Christian religion is protestant except Catholics.

Correct because they are all in protest with the Catholic church.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Bonny22Pye wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Yes, I agree with MM; Pentecostals are Protestants. Every organized Christian religion is protestant except Catholics.
Correct because they are all in protest with the Catholic church.

I thought this was common knowledge...

flan

Bonny22Pye · Guru

flan327 wrote:
Bonny22Pye wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Yes, I agree with MM; Pentecostals are Protestants. Every organized Christian religion is protestant except Catholics.
Correct because they are all in protest with the Catholic church.
I thought this was common knowledge...
flan

I think there are a lot of people that don't really understand the history of the church and denominations.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I only brought it up because Lily said she was Pentecostal, not Protestant. I wanted her to understand that she was both.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Bonny22Pye wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Bonny22Pye wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Yes, I agree with MM; Pentecostals are Protestants. Every organized Christian religion is protestant except Catholics.
Correct because they are all in protest with the Catholic church.
I thought this was common knowledge...
flan
I think there are a lot of people that don't really understand the history of the church and denominations.

There are also a lot of people who don't understand what the words mean. I have heard people say "I am Catholic, not Christian" in all seriousness. Or "I am not Protestant, I am a Christian". I just shake my head.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Mellow Momma wrote:
I only brought it up because Lily said she was Pentecostal, not Protestant. I wanted her to understand that she was both.

Yeah, I figured as much.

flan

Divine Geek · Guru

When some one asks what religion I am, I say Christian. Usually they say something like, "well yes, but what religion are you?" Or "what kind of Christian?" I'm not really sure what people find so confusing about being a Christian

Bonny22Pye · Guru

Divine Geek wrote:
When some one asks what religion I am, I say Christian. Usually they say something like, "well yes, but what religion are you?" Or "what kind of Christian?" I'm not really sure what people find so confusing about being a Christian

I think a lot of people are very concerned about the differences between the denominations.

Bonny22Pye · Guru

Divine Geek wrote:
When some one asks what religion I am, I say Christian. Usually they say something like, "well yes, but what religion are you?" Or "what kind of Christian?" I'm not really sure what people find so confusing about being a Christian

I always say Christian, we belong to a Catholic church. Clears up a lot of confusion.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Bonny22Pye wrote:
Divine Geek wrote:
When some one asks what religion I am, I say Christian. Usually they say something like, "well yes, but what religion are you?" Or "what kind of Christian?" I'm not really sure what people find so confusing about being a Christian
I think a lot of people are very concerned about the differences between the denominations.

Christian isn't a religion that's why they are confused. It's a broad term used to describe many many different religions, but Christian isnt a religion per se.

Ohfour · Hooker

I'm glad I live where I do. This would never EVER be an issue here. Good Friday is a Holy Day. I don't think that's ever been up for debate. All schools are closed and most businesses are. One of the perks of living in the Bible Belt...

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Bonny22Pye wrote:
Divine Geek wrote:
When some one asks what religion I am, I say Christian. Usually they say something like, "well yes, but what religion are you?" Or "what kind of Christian?" I'm not really sure what people find so confusing about being a Christian
I think a lot of people are very concerned about the differences between the denominations.

There's a huge difference between a Catholic and a Pentecostal that worships snakes. I think that's why a lot of people ask.

Divine Geek · Guru

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
Bonny22Pye wrote:
Divine Geek wrote:
When some one asks what religion I am, I say Christian. Usually they say something like, "well yes, but what religion are you?" Or "what kind of Christian?" I'm not really sure what people find so confusing about being a Christian
I think a lot of people are very concerned about the differences between the denominations.
There's a huge difference between a Catholic and a Pentecostal that worships snakes. I think that's why a lot of people ask.

No, people ask because they are rude and nibby. If I had wanted to be more specific, I would be. I don't understand the animosity between the denominations and I won't fuel the fires.

Ohfour · Hooker

I'm Pentecostal and I don't worship snakes. Nor do we hang from chandeliers or do cartwheels in the aisles.

Bonny22Pye · Guru

Divine Geek wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
Bonny22Pye wrote:
Divine Geek wrote:
When some one asks what religion I am, I say Christian. Usually they say something like, "well yes, but what religion are you?" Or "what kind of Christian?" I'm not really sure what people find so confusing about being a Christian
I think a lot of people are very concerned about the differences between the denominations.
There's a huge difference between a Catholic and a Pentecostal that worships snakes. I think that's why a lot of people ask.
No, people ask because they are rude and nibby. If I had wanted to be more specific, I would be. I don't understand the animosity between the denominations and I won't fuel the fires.

A lot of people think that Catholics worship false idols which is a big deal to some people. And then there is the whole Pope thing...

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Bonny22Pye wrote:
Divine Geek wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
Bonny22Pye wrote:
Divine Geek wrote:
When some one asks what religion I am, I say Christian. Usually they say something like, "well yes, but what religion are you?" Or "what kind of Christian?" I'm not really sure what people find so confusing about being a Christian
I think a lot of people are very concerned about the differences between the denominations.
There's a huge difference between a Catholic and a Pentecostal that worships snakes. I think that's why a lot of people ask.
No, people ask because they are rude and nibby. If I had wanted to be more specific, I would be. I don't understand the animosity between the denominations and I won't fuel the fires.
A lot of people think that Catholics worship false idols which is a big deal to some people. And then there is the whole Pope thing...

There are fringe groups of every branch of religion. Shrug. It is what it is. I don't think ALL applies to any one group of religious people. But there are SOME weirdo's that worship snakes. I'm sure there's a lot of weirdo's out there. That was the first example that came to mind thanks to LGS.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Ohfour wrote:
I'm Pentecostal and I don't worship snakes. Nor do we hang from chandeliers or do cartwheels in the aisles.

So you claim... evileye

flan

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

Ohfour wrote:
I'm Pentecostal and I don't worship snakes. Nor do we hang from chandeliers or do cartwheels in the aisles.

That would make church a lot of fun...

Ohfour · Hooker

It would, it would...but my pastor riles up enough as it is...

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Southern_Belle wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
I'm Pentecostal and I don't worship snakes. Nor do we hang from chandeliers or do cartwheels in the aisles.
That would make church a lot of fun...

If I did a cartwheel in the aisle there would be firemen. And medics. And splints.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

One of the kids in our church is known to do cartwheels in the aisles. She's a gymnast. But, she doesn't do it during service.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

DD used to dance to the music in the aisles when she was little. Around 2-3. The little old ladies in the church loved it. The priest would even point her out and say things like look how the spirit of the Lord has moved her! This was a Catholic Church too. They loved her.