TexasCHLforum.com

It just dawned on me that my Catholic church is attatched to a Catholic elementary school-- I have been carrying there for a bit, but now I'm starting to think that I was in the wrong? Anyone? Granted, school isn't in session on Sundays...... but....

Are you attending Mass in the church sanctuary? Or in one of the school buildings like the cafeteria?

A school is a school, even on Sunday.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39612&hilit=+church

We had this same question a while back - ended up looking at tax records for the buildings to help with our decision.

Hoi Polloi wrote:Are you attending Mass in the church sanctuary? Or in one of the school buildings like the cafeteria?

In the cathedral, next to the school. The school and church aren't connected, but sit on the same lot-- To simplify all the guess work, I will say that I attend mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Angelo, Texas. The school I believe is Sacred Heart Catholic School. And to help even more, I will take pics tomorrow before or after mass to kinda show y'all the set up. Looking at the tax records would be a smart idea too. To be on the safe side though...... Snatchel will unfortunately be unarmed (knife & pepper only) at mass until this is resolved. Nuts :(

snatchel wrote:In the cathedral, next to the school. The school and church aren't connected, but sit on the same lot-- To simplify all the guess work, I will say that I attend mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Angelo, Texas. The school I believe is Sacred Heart Catholic School. And to help even more, I will take pics tomorrow before or after mass to kinda show y'all the set up. Looking at the tax records would be a smart idea too. To be on the safe side though...... Snatchel will unfortunately be unarmed (knife & pepper only) at mass until this is resolved. Nuts :(

If they're separate buildings, the cathedral is legal unless it's 30.06 posted.

Here's my logic. Schools (buildings) are off limits by law but school property is not. So, I'm legal as long as I don't go inside the school building(s). I also bet the land is owned by the church, not the school, which makes the argument for legal CHL even stronger.

I might worry at smaller congregations where everything is under one roof and some rooms are used by both the church and the school, but with separate buildings I don't worry.

You are prohibited from carrying on the premises of the school. The statute defines premises as the building. I think you are OK as long as you have to go outside one building (church) to go into the other (school) if the two have a common wall with doors between then they are the same building I would think.

MoJo wrote:You are prohibited from carrying on the premises of the school. The statute defines premises as the building. I think you are OK as long as you have to go outside one building (church) to go into the other (school) if the two have a common wall with doors between then they are the same building I would think.

I'm on board with you. I went to mass today at 5 instead of tomorrow because of my curiosity to get a better, all around look. The Cathedral and School are completely seperate from one another, and share no doors/hallways/etc. Church owns the land. Think I'm clear, but will continue researching.

snatchel wrote:

MoJo wrote:You are prohibited from carrying on the premises of the school. The statute defines premises as the building. I think you are OK as long as you have to go outside one building (church) to go into the other (school) if the two have a common wall with doors between then they are the same building I would think.

I'm on board with you. I went to mass today at 5 instead of tomorrow because of my curiosity to get a better, all around look. The Cathedral and School are completely separate from one another, and share no doors/hallways/etc. Church owns the land. Think I'm clear, but will continue researching.

Since the buildings are totally separate, you are legal to enter the Cathedral at any time (unless as MoJo pointed out, it is posted with 30.06 or you are told by the priest to not carry.)

School grounds (outside the buildings) are OK to carry on as long as there is not a school sponsored function going on. Just don't go into the school buildings, watch for any school sponsored functions (sports practices, school carnival, etc.) outside on the school grounds if you venture out on that property area, and you are legal.

Even if you went to the cathedral during a school day, you would be legal to enter as it is a separate building and you were not going to the school. And, if the children were over from school attending a mass, the general consensus from those in the know is that a building does not become off limits just because some school kids show up. The building would have to belong to the school OR the school would have to have full control of the building during the time they were there to make it off limits.

So, as long as you stay away from the school buildings and or functions, you are legal.