BishopAccountability.org
	Trinity Fans Jeer Hits a Nerve By Mark Hayward New Hampshire Union Leader February 16, 2008 http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Trinity+fans%27+jeer+hits+a+nerve&articleId=14bd83b6-d59d-46fb-9dbe-8699c1fbe54b MANCHESTER – Trinity High School students were banned from attending last night's basketball games because they taunted a rival parochial school team last week with the chant "Your priests touch you," the school principal confirmed yesterday. The taunting took place Feb. 8, when Trinity was playing Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, according to Trinity Principal Denis Mailloux and several students. Mailloux said administrators from Bishop Guertin contacted Trinity this week about the matter. "It wasn't a prolonged thing, but it was something certainly our colleagues at Bishop Guertin took exception to. Rightly so. We think our kids are above that," Mailloux said. Bishop Guertin, which is run by the Rhode Island-based Brothers of the Sacred Heart, has settled lawsuits brought by several former students who allege they were fondled by Brother Guy Beaulieu, who taught at the school from 1971 to 1991. On Thursday, Trinity athletic director Patrick Smith met with Bishop Guertin administrators and took responsibility for the students' actions, Mailloux said. Bishop Guertin athletic officials downplayed the matter yesterday. Varsity boys' basketball coach Jim Migneault said he was too focused on the close game to pay attention to what the crowd was saying. Athletic director Tony Johnson said he did not want to comment extensively. "It's playful cheering which may have gotten out of hand," Johnson said. Meanwhile, one student left Trinity after he was suspended for his role in the chant. Carl Braley said he was blamed for initiating the chant, something he denies. He said the entire section of students he was in -- 30 to 40 youngsters -- participated. "I love that school. I'm best friends with the team. I'm their Number 1 fan," he said. But Braley said his grades will improve at West High School. Unlike Trinity, West does not penalize suspended students with lower grades, he said. Braley said he left Trinity because officials said he would have to do his homework away from school, could not march in graduation and could not attend the prom. He said his father doesn't understand how officials can blame the entire incident on one person. Mailloux said he could not discuss the suspension because of student confidentiality. He said all Trinity students share the responsibility of making the school the best community possible, so as a community, Trinity must "bear the burden of reparation." Mailloux said two parents he talked to were unhappy and one sent a "pretty hot" e-mail. But at least 25 e-mailed him in support of his decision. He acknowledged that Trinity players and fans have heard the same taunt in the past, but he said that does not give them license to repeat it. "We want them to be loud and supportive of our team," he said. "They can be normal kids, but there's a line we can't cross."
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