For a high school student to graduate as valedictorian means that he or she had the highest grade point average in the entire school. That often means taking weighted classes that are more difficult and at a far higher than high school level and excelling in those classes.
To not be able to give the valedictory speech despite all of that hard work is outrageous, especially when the reason for being barred from doing so is as ridiculous as it was for Christian Bale of Covington, Kentucky.
Holy Cross High School valedictorian Christian Bales wanted to deliver a speech about youth advocacy at his graduation tonight, but the diocese said it was inappropriate.
So he accepted his diploma, grabbed a megaphone and gave the speech outside. https://t.co/25VRma0PDF pic.twitter.com/k80O4Ns66X
— Sarah Walsh (@sarahbellewalsh) May 26, 2018
Bales, a graduate of Holy Cross High School, was forced to deliver his prepared speech as valedictorian over a bullhorn outside the ceremony. The archdiocese sent a spokesman, Tom Fitzgerald, to explain the reasoning behind the refusal to allow him to speak at graduation.
‘When the proposed speeches were received, they were found to contain elements that were political and inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church.’
"The young people will win because we're finished being complacent." – Christian Bales, 18-year-old valedictorian denied the right to speak at his own high school graduation https://t.co/WEGwGT4pZ3 pic.twitter.com/AZJlikhi3m
— Alison L. Grimes (@AlisonForKY) May 26, 2018
While Bales is an openly gay student, there’s no indication that he mentioned that fact or made any references to LGBTQ rights in his speech. He’s known around the school as a student concerned with social justice issues, but he didn’t argue for women’s reproductive rights. In fact, he praised his fellow students for their participation in an anti-abortion March for Life protest.
In an egregious attempt to stifle young, diverse voices & opinions, the Diocese of Covington prevented my good friend Katherine Frantz, along with class valedictorian Christian Bales, from speaking at their own graduation ceremony Friday night. https://t.co/LKZzLAb4yd
— Ben Conniff (@thereelbennyc) May 28, 2018
The issue that got the valedictorian barred from giving his speech, the issue that was too “political and inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church” was his praise for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who survived a school shooting and have organized around common sense gun law reform. Apparently, Jesus was a big second amendment advocate who found it sinful to take weapons of murder out of the hands of Americans.
Christian Bales, a Kentucky high school valedictorian, wanted to give graduation speech but was denied by school officials who thought it too political (gun control)
He gave it anyway
On bullhorn outside the ceremony
— Steve ?????? (@EnragedApostate) May 28, 2018
Student Council President Katherine Frantz was also barred from giving her planned speech. Frantz and Bales are close friends with a reputation for backing social justice reform.
‘The [student council] president is my best friend, and we have been two huge advocates for social reform in our community, which has likely put us on the radar for the diocese.’
See the speech that so offended the Catholic Church below:
Featured image screengrab via Twitter by @AlisonForKY
