A teenager has lost her High Court challenge to be allowed to wear a Christian "purity ring" to school.

Yet another example of the Good is Evil and Evil is good metahphor!!!


Teen Loses Chastity Ring Case
Updated: 14:31, Monday July 16, 2007

A teenager has lost her High Court challenge to be allowed to wear a Christian "purity ring" to school.

Lydia Playfoot, 16, claimed the ban imposed by the Millais School in Horsham, West Sussex, was an "unlawful interference" with her right to express her faith.

But lawyers for the school successfully argued that the purity ring was not an essential part of the Christian religion and contravened the school's uniform policy.

Lydia said she was "very disappointed" by the High court's decision.

"Slowly, over time, people such as school governors, employers, political organisations and others will be allowed to stop Christians from publicly expressing and practising their faith," she said.

Lydia was one of a group of Christians at the Millais School who wore the ring as a sign of their belief in abstinence from sex until marriage.

Her lawyer had argued that the school, which allows Muslim and Sikh students to wear headscarves and religious bracelets, was violating Lydia's right to "freedom of thought, conscience and religion" under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Human rights barrister Paul Diamond accused the school authorities of relying on "folklore" information about religious requirements and had acted with no real knowledge.

Lydia said she would consult her legal team about a possible appeal.

"The school governors originally said it was for health and safety reasons that purity rings were banned from school, but have offered no evidence to support the view that wearing a ring could physically harm another pupil or staff member," she said.

She added: "As a Christian I do not agree with sex before marriage.

"I believe I have a right not only to state my Christian views on sex, but also to demonstrate my Christian faith and commitment to God and my future husband not to have sex before marriage, through the wearing of a purity ring."

[link to news.sky.com]