NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      NEW YORK (CWNews.com) - A junior high school teacher was fired this week for telling her sixth-grade students that a deceased classmate is in heaven and then praying with them.

      Mildred Rosario, 43, said a student in her class asked her if a recently drowned classmate went to heaven, to which she replied, "Of course." She then told any student who didn't want to take part in the discussion to do other activities, but all 29 remained. Rosario said she spoke about Jesus and then led the children in prayer.

      She told the New York Post newspaper, "A lot of programs are brought into our schools, where they talk about condoms, drugs, and everything else, but we cannot talk about God. This is an injustice. Without him, nothing is possible." The Board of Education said Rosario violated regulations requiring the absence of religious discussion in the classroom.