‘Horrified’: Catholic students in Maryland learn about coach’s ties to white nationalists

Last updated on: January 11, 2018 at 11:37 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

‘Horrified’: Catholic students in Maryland learn about coach’s ties to white nationalists 2018-01-11T11:37:25-05:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This gave me a jolt: the school in question is the alma mater of both my sister and my wife.

From The Washington Post:

Students at an all-girls Catholic high school in Maryland discovered another side to one of their former coaches last week: Gregory Conte, who had also worked as a substitute teacher, maintained strong ties to white nationalists who rallied last summer in Charlottesville.

The Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington fired Conte in October. But Conte’s role in the classroom and on the playing field have come to wider attention in recent days as students made the connection on social media, the school emailed families and a string of news reports was published.

Kathleen Ryan Prebble, the school’s president, said in an interview Wednesday that Conte started coaching at Holy Cross in 2014 and later began working as a substitute teacher. He used an alternate name — Gregory Ritter — in his political activities, and the school was unaware, she said.

That changed in late October, when the school received anonymous emails. Prebble said she spoke with Conte, who confirmed his alt-right activities — which, because they conflict with the school’s mission as a Christ-centered community that values diversity, led to Conte’s dismissal.

“He never showed that side to us,” said Prebble, who dismissed him immediately but did not send a letter then because she considered it an employment issue.

On Friday, Prebble met with students to discuss the issue, describing their reaction as “quite horrified.” More than 40 percent identify as students of color.

She said she emphasized to students that “this was not about conservative versus liberal values. This was about extremism and this was about hate — that’s what the alt-right is about. And that this obviously was in direct opposition to our school.”

Conte, 29, said in an interview Wednesday he enjoyed working at the college-preparatory school of 470 students — where he had served as junior varsity field hockey coach and assistant track coach — but was not surprised by his dismissal. “I knew it was only a matter of time,” he said.

Read more.

Voices & Views

Previous Post

January 11, 2018

Jon Voight to star to new film telling the story behind Roe v. Wade

Next Post

January 11, 2018 Magnificat's first American editor, Father Peter John Cameron, to step down

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What sign marked the houses to be spared during Passover?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A dove symbol A red ribbon A lit candle Blood on doorposts

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »