On Tuesday, August 17, Michelle Peduto, Director of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh announced that masks will be required for students grades K-12 for the start of the 2021 school year.  Our children have spent the summer enjoying activities with family and friends mask-free. They have seen life return to normal in our community. Parents and children had started putting the hardships of last school year behind them and now remain overwhelmed with stress and anxiety as a new school year approaches. This is a complete pivot from what parents were told via a letter in May, where she stated that the diocese planned a return to normal in the fall of 2021.

These decisions are not based on any science or local statistics for children in our area, but are instead being made to simplify the responsibilities of administrators and avoid any unpleasant red tape and government overreach.  They are prioritizing convenience and political theater over our children’s social, emotional, physical and educational well-being.

While last year, the Diocesan schools set the standard and defied the norm by returning students to the classroom in-person 5 days a week, albeit masked, they have decided to surrender what is in the best interest of our children and follow the crowd this year.  Our children are being subjected to the most stringent guidelines of any group in the state. There is a growing concern that parents are losing their rights to do what is best for their children. We must stand up as parents and as a community and say enough is enough. Parents and caregivers - not the government or the diocese - are responsible for making decisions about their children’s health and safety. Parents must have the option to consider all available evidence and the vast array of concerns beyond one discrete virus when making these decisions.

We DEMAND the option to make our own decisions as to whether our children should wear a mask to school.

Sign this petition and urge the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Director of Catholic Schools, Michelle Peduto to stand up for what is right and best for school students and parents and allow the decision about whether a student should mask to be left in the hands of the parents.  

Sign and share this petition. Additionally, you can email your concerns directly to Director of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Pittsburgh, Michelle Peduto mpeduto@diopitt.org

Take a stand and immediately suspend your FACTS Tuition account to let Mrs. Peduto and the Diocese of Pittsburgh know that we are serious and will not comply with this harmful mandate.  

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." Revelation 21:8