Lawsuit: Kentucky Catholic school teacher used racial slur, denied Black student communion

Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer
·3 min read
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The family of a St. Joseph School eighth grader, the only Black student in her class, is suing the church that operates the school and the Diocese of Covington. The lawsuit says the girl endured months of racial harassment.

The family's lawyer Jamir Davis filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court in Covington. He said the student at the Cold Spring Catholic school has flashbacks to the incidents of "malicious abuse."

Clergy members make their way into the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, in Covington, prior to a ceremony installing and ordaining the new bishop of the Diocese of Covington, John C. Iffert, on Thursday, Sept. 30. Iffert was announced as bishop-elect in July by Pope Francis and will replace Bishop Roger Foys.
Clergy members make their way into the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, in Covington, prior to a ceremony installing and ordaining the new bishop of the Diocese of Covington, John C. Iffert, on Thursday, Sept. 30. Iffert was announced as bishop-elect in July by Pope Francis and will replace Bishop Roger Foys.

What the family says happened

According to the lawsuit, the girl was called a racial slur by a classmate after she refused to share her answers to an assignment.

She reported what happened to the school administration. The girl's name is not used in the lawsuit to protect her confidentiality.

The girl's mother said school officials told her they would investigate and get back to her. However, the school never did and the student was never disciplined, she said.

The lawsuit states that the following month the girl's English teacher repeatedly used a racial slur during a lesson.

The teacher explained to the class that her parents said the word all the time, but now you have to "be careful who you say (N-word) around because you will be ex'ed out of society," the lawsuit states.

Some of the girl's classmates spoke up during class and the girl told another administrator what had happened, according to the lawsuit, but the school did not take any action.

The lawsuit states the English teacher then tried to intimidate the girl and convince her to drop the issue.

Then, according to the family's lawyer, the English teacher denied the girl communion during a school-sponsored Mass.

The lawsuit

The lawsuit claims the church and the diocese discriminated against the girl and allowed her to be singled out and bullied due to her race. Her English teacher and a school administrator are also named in the action.

The suit also claims she was discriminated against due to a learning disability that makes it harder for her to communicate.

"(The girl) is scarred for the rest of her life because of these incidents," the lawsuit states.

The lawyer said both she and her mother have had to get counseling to deal with the situation.

The family is seeking statutory and punitive damages.

"This is the story of a brave, Black girl standing her ground against the biggest bully at her school, her teacher," the lawsuit states.

What the Diocese says

The Diocese of Covington said it does not comment on potential litigation but on Monday, Bishop John Iffert, who leads the Diocese of Covington, condemned racism.

"The teaching of the Catholic Church is clear: Racism is a moral evil," the statement said. "The Catholic Church and the Diocese of Covington work to oppose and root out racism wherever we encounter this radical evil, especially in our Christian minds and hearts."

Quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the statement said discrimination based on sex, race and color must be curbed and eradicated as it is incompatible with God's design.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Family sues Kentucky Catholic school claiming racism against student