State court says Catholic school can dictate student's hair length

Published: 2004-07-20

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (CNS) -- Russell Gorman III, who will be a senior in the fall at St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, will have to cut his hair to continue his education at the Catholic school, said the Rhode Island Supreme Court. In a July 15 decision, it reversed a lower court ruling that said the school acted capriciously in implementing a limit on hair length. The unanimous decision, written by Justice Paul A. Suttell, said that as a private school St. Raphael is "accorded by law wide latitude in promulgating its own rules, regulations and codes of conduct." The court decision said, "Further, because there has been no showing that the hair-length regulation is against any law or public policy, we hold that the regulation is a lawful and enforceable term of the school's educational contract with its students and their parents." St. Raphael is a Providence diocesan high school administered by the Christian Brothers.

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