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Home Page > News > Catholic school bans single teen from going to prom without a date - VIDEO

Catholic school bans single teen from going to prom without a date - VIDEO

Irish American 17-year-old standing up to Philadelphia Archdiocese over “sickening” rule

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 8:06 AM

Updated Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 2:10 PM

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Amanda Dougherty (17) and her father Jack

Photo by CBS

An Irish American girl in Philadelphia is standing up to the Archdiocese whose rule won’t let her go to prom without a date.

Amanda Dougherty (17) told CBS she’s spent about $1,000 on her perfect dress, shoes and accessories but her hopes of the perfect prom were dashed earlier this week when her date, a high school junior, cancelled on her. Now the teenager may not be allowed to attended Archbishop John Carroll High School’s prom because of the Church’s rule.

She told reporters, “For them to say we're not good enough to go without a guy next to us, that's kind of sickening."

Her father Jack Dougherty said, “She's been excited for a couple of years (about prom). She went out around Christmas looking for her dress.”

The teenager said she and her friends were really excited about the dance and created a Facebook page to plan their dresses. She said it was “blocked so the guys couldn't see it.”

A statement released by the Office of Catholic Education said the school has “numerous dances and events throughout the year where dates are not required, but we view the prom as a special social event where a date is required to attend.”

CBS Eyewitness News reported on her case:

Nster.com

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27 Comments

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SingleDonald | Apr 27, 2012, 11:14 PM EDT

My heart goes out to this girl! Yet, I missed my own Junior Prom, as I, at 16, was not ready to approach a girl about a date. Nobody in my public high school, on Long Island, was alowed to go "stag"; it was couples only. There should be an exception, however, when your date cancels out on you.

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EamonnDublin | Apr 27, 2012, 03:55 AM EDT

"KatieMurphy"! Yes, that's correct - Catholic CHARITIES. There are lots of them around the world, and they do great work. Surely to goodness you have heard of them and what they do? Or does blind hatred prevent you from seeing the truth? Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.

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KatieMurphy | Apr 26, 2012, 09:14 PM EDT

BTW recently I read that last year Catholic charities received 650 million from our national govt.............Catholic CHARITIES?????????????????????

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pilib04 | Apr 26, 2012, 08:03 PM EDT

This news story has gone viral. Local news stations covering Archbishop John Carroll HS nationwide. Real smart move by the neanderthals who operate this school. A real insult to John Carroll.

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pilib04 | Apr 26, 2012, 07:31 PM EDT

This is why most schools allow singles at prom. Archbishop Carroll High School is operating in the dark ages. I just cannot understand why these schools are so mean.

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ancavker | Apr 26, 2012, 03:37 PM EDT

Red Branch: She is Irish, Irish-American. The best of both worlds.

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RedBranch | Apr 26, 2012, 03:20 PM EDT

God she looks Irish...

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hermitTalker | Apr 26, 2012, 11:06 AM EDT

I wish to concur with the comment that so many people on this IRELAND- related site cannot avoid dragging in the sex angle and undermine the Church. I was told years ago that if a Baptist preacher talks about the same subject a lot, that subject is his moral Achilles heel. I have seen it play out in life with so many, homosexuals who are homophobic and secret drinkers who lie about their problem. The person who has it together is never rude, judgmental about others' conduct. She/he never condemns the sinner while not appreciating the weakness. Jesus was the same, He blasted the self-righteous and had kind words for the well known publicly shunned people. Love the sinner, hate the sin and use a scalpel where needed, not a butcher knife.

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EamonnDublin | Apr 26, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT

Is it not strange how some posters can take an item like this one and, instead of simply discussing the topic, always, always, always turn it into a nasty, virulent, general attack on the Catholic church. It appears to me that if some of the posters were on a flight from LA to New York and it was late, if there was a priest on board they would blame the Catholic church for the late arrival and from there launch into a vicious rant about the church in general. I await their comments, accusing me of racism, homophobia, Islamophobia, sexism, etc.!! Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.

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IrelandNorth | Apr 26, 2012, 06:47 AM EDT

Archbishop John Carroll should have no say in this, unless he has a date too. He could drop by the local convent on his way to the prom, and pick the prettiest Sister of Mercy. (She'd want to be merciful to go with him.) Clerical crossdressing oedipalised mammies boys shouldn't dic[k]tate social conventions. If Amanda is lesbian(?), she could ask Christine Quinn for a date. Or better still, if she's hetero, IC could fix her up with a date with petulant blogger and Ulster Presbyterian bachelor accountant, STALAN07. That way, having emigrated to England from Northern Ireland's buoyant economy(?) to find work there, he could get a GREEN card, and enjoy a Catholic High School Prom.

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mreinhar2001 | Apr 26, 2012, 01:50 AM EDT

I think Cathy Hayes may have either made a mistake in the second paragraph or did not write what she meant to clearly. I can tell you for a fact that the Roman Catholic Church does not have a rule that says one cannot go to one's high school prom as a solo. This is probably a school rule and possibly something from the local diocese.

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DrSheilahere | Apr 25, 2012, 06:16 PM EDT

This is where the Church loses me.

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docmikey | Apr 25, 2012, 05:15 PM EDT

My granddaughter went to the prom with three girlfriends. All wore prom dresses and all had a good time. They go to "public" high school, so the Catholic school "rule" didn't apply.

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billie061 | Apr 25, 2012, 04:39 PM EDT

They say the prom is a special event ? so why ruin one of Amandas first special events. Maybe if her friends and classmates backed her up with a threat to boycott the prom, then maybe the school might re-consider. Larry777 you are disgusting.

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Bythebay | Apr 25, 2012, 03:48 PM EDT

millstreet, your idea she wants to go on her own because some guy changed his mind is archaic.

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