Louisiana Bishop Leaves Graduation

More commencement huwt feewings:

A warning Tuesday night went out to the crowd at St. Thomas More's graduation. Monday, families of Teurlings Catholic High School grads like India Harris were told the same thing, too. No cheering - until Bishop Michael Jarrell hands everyone a diploma.
"I was nervous, excited - all that good stuff," says Harris. Her mother, Pam Derousselle says, "it's exciting - it's a big event - you can't contain yourself sometimes." Both say the Teurlings audience just couldn't hold it in - and cheered for several graduates - including India. "He called my name - they screamed - he handed me the diploma and he goes congrats. He said get somebody else to do this and he walked off," says India.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Lafayette tells KATC the Bishop did leave after repeatedly asking the audience to respect the ceremony. Derousselle says she was shocked, "I'm just sitting there like oh my God - how could he do that to my child?"

The school's chancellor handed out the rest of the diplomas. The spokesman says the Bishop felt like he had to take a stand against unacceptable behavior. "Me personally - I think the Bishop owes her an apology," says India's mom. The diocese says the graduates weren't the problem, it was the audience. They also say Bishop Jarrell has not changed any plans for future graduation appearances.

My Comments:
Here's a clue for those of you in attendance at this graduation: When the Bishop tells you several times to be quiet during the ceremony, you might want to STFU!


UPDATE (24 May 2006)
Amy Welborn has additional details:

Text of cover letter

Bishop Michael Jarrell regrets that the Advertiser's front-page headline on Wednesday, May 24, 2006, said that he had apologized for walking out of the Teurlings' Graduation last Monday night. The bishop issued no such apology. Under the circumstances, the bishop believes he did the right thing, saying, "Walking out during a graduation is not something I enjoyed, but it is something that needed to be done."

Text of statement from Bishop Michael Jarrell on Teurlings graduation

The issue is respect. Recently I attended the graduation ceremony of one of our Catholic high schools. During the presentation of diplomas, people in the audience began making various kinds of noises when the names of graduates were called. Four times they were asked not to engage in this behavior. When it continued I chose to leave the auditorium before the presentation of diplomas was completed.

The issue is respect. Many have accused me of being disrespectful because I walked out. Under ordinary circumstances they would be correct. My perspective is that the behavior of some in the audience was very disrespectful. I believe that the graduates, the school and I were all being disrespected. I wanted to make a statement that rude and disrespectful behavior was not acceptable. The graduation was being high jacked by a few, or more than a few, persons engaging in disrespectful behavior.

I have great respect for the graduates. They were perfect young ladies and gentlemen. They did all that was asked of them by the school. I believe that they wanted a dignified ceremony and one not interrupted by rude behavior by others. Thirty years ago it was the graduates who created disruptions. Today's graduates are models of good behavior; the problem is in the audience. What I did was for the sake of the graduates in future years.

Some are saying that society has changed and that people's expectations are different. They say nothing can be done, so everyone must go along. I believe that things have changed, but I do not believe that everyone has to go along. I believe that rude behavior can be confronted. I believe that the majority of parents and graduates want dignified graduations. If not, why have processions, caps and gowns? Why have formality on the stage and raucous behavior in the audience?