Christian Purity Rings Banned by School

(West Sussex, England) The Millais School has banned a 16-year-old girl, Lydia Playfoot, from wearing a "purity ring" to symbolize her decision to remain chaste before marriage. The ring is a simple band of silver given to youngsters who complete an evangelical church course preaching abstinence. It is inscribed with a Bible verse.

Leon Nettley, a self-appointed authority on religious symbols and headmaster of Millais, ruled that the ring is mere jewelry, which is prohibited. Playfoot says the ring is an expression of her faith in Christianity and the Bible.

"It is really important to me because in the Bible it says we should do this," she told BBC radio. "Muslims are allowed to wear headscarves and other faiths can wear bangles and other types of jewellery. It feels like Christians are being discriminated against."

Playfoot plans to take her case to the High Court, seeking to overturn the ban.

Heh. Christians being discriminated against. Imagine that.


[Update 06/27/07]

Lydia Playfoot presented her case to the High Court, claiming that her human rights have been violated.

If she is successful, she could set a legal precedent over which items can be classed as a cultural expression of religion.

It echoes a row last year in which a British Airways worker, Nadia Eweida, was banned from wearing a cross at work. BA eventually lifted the ban.

In a written statement before the court in Central London, Miss Playfoot stated that the school's ban had sent a signal to pupils that Christianity was a lesser religion than others.

Paul Diamond, appearing for Miss Playfoot, accused the school authorities of relying on "folk lore" to make their decision. Mr Diamond, who also represented Ms Eweida in the British Airways case, said: "Secular authorities cannot rule on religious truth . . . secular authorities and institutions cannot be arbiters of religious faith."

The school rejected Miss Playfoot's claims, arguing that the ring was not an integral part of the Christian faith and contravened its uniform policy. The only jewellery pupils at the school were allowed to wear were stud earrings, it claimed.

The High Court has taken the case for review and will issue a judgment at a future date.


[Update 07/16/07]

High Court rules against Playfoot.