Students Protest for Barred Pregnant Girl

Students at a Roman Catholic high school in San Pedro boycotted classes Friday to protest authorities’ decision to bar their student vice president from attending graduation ceremonies because she is six months pregnant.

A petition signed by a majority of the student body was presented to the school’s principal and pastor earlier this week, and on Friday a crowd of 200 youngsters gathered outside the school grounds, chanting “Lisa! Lisa!”

They said graduation ceremonies would have little meaning for them without the presence of 17-year-old Melissa Martinez--former homecoming princess, student vice president, straight-A student and college scholarship winner.

“She has the support of the whole school,” one student said.

Officials Adament

But school officials remained adamant.

Monsignor Patrick Gallagher, pastor of Mary Star of the Sea Church, declined to comment on the matter, and Carolyn Quijano, principal of the school, said the refusal to permit Martinez to attend graduation ceremonies implied “no punishment of Lisa.”

“The school has tried to show forgiveness and support of Lisa,” she said. “But forgiveness and empathy do not mean approval.”

All the same, Melissa’s father, Joseph Martinez, said he believes his daughter is being punished--for having followed the church’s own anti-abortion doctrine.

‘She’s Sorry’

“She made a mistake,” Martinez said, “and she’s sorry, but she didn’t want to get an abortion, and for that they are punishing her in this way. Melissa is devastated.”

Principal Quijano denied that the school “has . . . been remiss in its responsibility to (Lisa)” but added:

“Lisa also has to be responsible for her decision and for the consequences of her decision and the school must support the teachings of the church. She agreed not to participate in the ceremony as a condition to finish her education.”

Melissa, who said she plans to keep her baby and has already been accepted into the pre-med program at USC, acknowledged that she once agreed not to participate in the graduation ceremony.