By John Stegeman
The Catholic Telegraph

See video & photos below.

Showing his support for those suffering from ALS, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Superintendent of Catholic School Jim Rigg took part in the ice bucket challenge Thursday morning at Elder High School.

FAQ: What is the Ice Bucket Challenge, and why is it happening?

Alongside Elder principal Tom Otten, Rigg was doused with a large bucket of ice water as Elder students cheered on. Four Elder students, Daniel Mueller, Ben James, Brad Murphy and Luke Jett, had the privilege of dunking their educational administrators.

Both Rigg and Otten will be making donations to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute on behalf of ALS.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati was the center of media reporting Wednesday afternoon and evening after an email from Rigg was leaked to the press. Contrary to some media reports, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati had not forbidden schools from participating in the ice bucket challenge for ALS. Rather, Rigg instructed schools to make sure any donations raised went to morally licit charitable organizations.

The ALS Association, which has received most donations related to the ice bucket challenge, supports research related to embryonic stem cells, which the Catholic church opposes.

“We support efforts that are in line with our principals as Catholics to end that devestating medical condition,” Rigg told the assembled media at Elder on Thursday morning. “However, as schools, we have to ensure that all of our efforts are reflective of our principles, including the belief in the sanctity of life. The John Paul II Medical Research Institute reflects these principals. They’ll be the recipients of these funds here today.”

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge seeks to raise awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative condition affecting roughly 30,000 Americans.

Posted Aug. 21, 2014