In the days following the Nov 3 election of the Mt Lebanon school board, Lebo residents and concerned Catholics have been made aware of the newly elected director’s public profile picture, featuring a distorted image of the Virgin Mary, wearing a cutoff tee emblazoned with the anarchy symbol and lighting her cigarette on a Molotov cocktail.

While entitled to own personal opinion of the Catholic Church, the decision to publicize this image on social media calls into question whether she should be in a position to make education decisions for the many children in this school district, particularly as a representative of its diversity, equity and inclusion board. By its nature, the goal of diversity and inclusion is for all people to feel welcome. The image alone, and the negligence in not considering the implications of posting such an image publicly, demonstrates a lack of capacity and skills necessary to be a leader in a diverse environment. How, by Mt Lebanon’s own standards in its handbook and expectations of student conduct, would this not be considered a type of hate speech, a religious slur? Would she not be held accountable as a teacher or other professional representing the district with this kind of public display of religious intolerance? Consider if this were made with a recognized icon of any other religion, and what our collective response would be. It is beyond unacceptable for an elected public servant, let alone one who is now in a position of power over the education of children, directing how diversity and inclusion are addressed in our schools. She is proving that the notions of “hate speech” and “intolerance” go in only one direction. 

We call for Johnson’s immediate resignation.

Please consider also joining countless local Catholics in praying for as we make reparations for the offense and blasphemy committed against our beloved Blessed Mother.