That request sparked the online petition.
When he learned of what was going on, he asked the school to stop flying the two flags. The school had been flying a Black Lives Matter and a gay pride flag next to the American flag for over a year, but was only recently brought to the attention of the bishop. This year the source of the controversy began on April 3 when McManus issued a statement that was critical of the Nativity School, a middle school affiliated with Holy Cross. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the bishop has not attended a graduation ceremony at the Jesuit school. He made his decision after the school's president, Vincent Rougeau, was petitioned by some students, faculty, and alumni to disinvite him.
(Photo credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)īishop Robert McManus, who heads the Diocese of Worcester, has notified the College of Holy Cross that he will not attend the school's commencement on May 27. A New York Police Department vehicle burns in a riot after the death of George Floyd.
