The Pope John XIII catholic high school in the state of New Jersey has instated an immediate ban on blogging for its students, according to a report in the The Daily Record.

The school's principal reverend Kieran McHugh told the 900 students that the personal journals attract sexual predators. Students have to cancel their MySpace, Typepad or Blogger accounts or face suspension.

The Catholic Church is an authority in knowing how great the threats from child molesters really is. The institution after all for years moved around child molesting priests between its parishes in an effort to cover up the sexual abuse scandal inside its church.

Mind you, McHugh isn't telling students not to blog from school – his blogging ban extends to after school hours.

"I don't see this as censorship," McHugh told The Daily Record. "I believe we are teaching common civility, courtesy and respect."

The story goes on to quote concerned parents and other parties who voice their fear of the gore that is apparently spreading on these blogs – that most parents never heard about until the ban. Of course something like that would never happen within the walls of a respected institution like the Catholic Church… oh… wait.

Never mind the free speech violations that the ban is obviously violating. The Pope John XIII high school is a private school, meaning that they board can come up with any rule it wants.

But then again, if the Church is fighting a new trend, you know it has to be good.

Forgive me father, for I have blogged.

Photo: Michal Adamczyk

Tags: blog, blogosphere

26 Oct 2005