Some parents in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh are challenging a school mask requirement announced by the diocese earlier this week.
An online petition had over 2,500 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.
The authors of the petition argue their "children have spent the summer enjoying activities with family and friends mask-free" and now "remain overwhelmed with stress and anxiety as a new school year approaches."
The diocese is requiring students and staff to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status to start the year. According to a release, it plans to reevaluate the policy in late September.
Bishop David Zubik told Lynne Hayes-Freeland on News Radio KDKA the decision was based on advice from health experts.
"The convincing factor for me was that the majority of our students who are coming to our schools, especially our elementary schools, have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated," he said. "When you take a look at the advice that pediatricians are making and especially for the uptick of cases that are being reported by children's hospital, I thought this is really important that we really do everything that we can to protect our school communities."
Zubik said he was surprised by the petition but added the diocese has also received support from families who agree with the decision.