It is critical for concerned parents to voice their support for their children who often cannot speak out for themselves or be aware of the unknown long-term costs of wearing a mask for over a year.

We must show our kids that the doctor-patient relationship is a two way street of dialogue and ultimately relies on the consent of the patient or legal guardian. Imposing mask mandates without allowing the patients to make the final choice, violates that relationship.

Furthermore, the benefits of masks are not well documented. However, their harm is quite obvious. Much of communication, empathy, speech development, socialization, self-expression and mental health comes from the ability to you use one's face in building synergy with others. This effect is magnified as mandates stretch past the initial weeks, months and into years.

In Medical Ethics the burden of demonstrating substantial benefit of a medical treatment and gaining consent falls on the interventionist. Absent showing substantial benefit and gaining consent, we do not have medicine, but rather medical tyranny. The below signed request that the unfounded mask mandate by the Diocese be overturned to do lack of evidence and violation of basic medical ethics principles.

Each individual's immune system is different. Each individual will experience different negative impacts from wearing a mask. Only a student and their guardian can weigh these impacts and make the best choice for their health. This is no a place for a one-size-fits all solution on such a critical issue.

We trust that the local parishes and diocese will empower the families they serve to make the best medical choices they can while returning to their core mission of providing the best Catholic education.

Thank you,