Catholic School Fires Gay Teacher in Advance of "Wedding"

nola.com ^ | 03/02/2012 | Associated Press

[massmike]

A music teacher at a Catholic Church was fired after church officials learned that he planned to marry his male partner of 20 years in New York.

Asked about the Archdiocese's role in the firing, a spokeswoman replied that the Archdiocese "fully supports the action taken at St. Ann Parish School as it is in full compliance with the Christian Witness Statement signed by every educator in the Catholic school system."

The Christian Witness Statement, which educators sign when applying for work in the archdiocese, says all who serve in Catholic education should, among other requirements, "not take a public position contrary to the Catholic Church" and "demonstrate a public life consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church."

The Rev. Bill Kempf, St. Ann's pastor, said in a statement that the parish was "recently informed by one of its teachers of his plan to unite in marriage with an individual of the same sex. With full respect of this individual's basic human dignity, this same-sex union opposes Roman Catholic teaching as it cannot realize the full potential a marital relationship is meant to express.

"As a violation of the Christian Witness Statement that all Catholic educators in the Archdiocese of St. Louis are obliged to uphold, we relieved this teacher of his duties."

The Roman Catholic Church does not condemn homosexuals who remain "chaste," but it takes a strong stance against same-sex marriage and homosexual acts.

Fischer's firing comes on the heels of a Jan. 11 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that gives churches and their schools broad powers over employees. In its opinion, the court upheld the "ministerial exception" that essentially says churches can't be sued over employment decisions regarding those the church hires to "preach their beliefs, teach their faith and carry out their mission."

[ReformationFan]

Good for the school. If this music teacher doesn’t like it, he can work in public school or for one run by the Episcopagans or the Lesbyterians.

[FewsOrange]

Do they also fire anyone who lives with a partner to whom they are not married or fire anyone who gets divorced?

[fidelis]

It isn’t immoral to get civilly divorced; it is to attempt remarriage if a decree of nullity has not been granted for a first marriage.

[Romulus]

Living quietly with a “partner” does not violate the requirement that an employee will “not take a public position contrary to the Catholic Church”.

[dog breath]

A private school should be able to do what they want as long as it doesn’t incite violence like some Islamic madrasah.

[cameraeye]

“.......fire anyone who lives with a partner to whom they are not married.....”

Please get over it! It is a Catholic thing and it is not going to change. So help me God! n/s

[steve86]

it is to attempt remarriage if a decree of nullity has not been granted for a first marriage.

Only if intimate relations are intended.

[Lurker]

Unless you hold some official position in the Catholic Church that is not for you to decide.

[Antoninus]

Sounds good to me. The guy violated his contract. Out he goes.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I think it depends on the "public" nature of the violation (the canonical word would be "manifest") The Church can't, and won't, track people down and investigate their personal lives. For instance, the Cahurch would never make the assumption that two people who lived together were having sex together. They could be just roommates or housemates. A lot of people share houses, after all.

Civil divorce is not forbidden by the Catholic church. But re-marriage while one's first spouse is still living, is "manifest" adultery/bigamy. Sexual intercourse is a private thing; Marriage is a public, "manifest" thing.

So would cohabitation be cause for firing? I'm thinking probably not, unless they went around announcing, that is, making it "manifest," that they were having sexual relations. Similarly, divorce wouldn't lead to firing: re-marriage would.

[little jeremiah]

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They probably should have fired the homosexual as soon as they knew what he was. But I suppose this time was good, as it was obvious what he was up to. Homosexuals should not be in positions around any children or teenagers for another thing.

[Crapgame]

My Catholic High School had a gay trigonometry and calculus teacher. He was flaming. I still remember his opening line to us students on day 1 in his classroom was a very off-color homosexual joke. The school let him get away with his antics until he began making public appearances and performing with openly homosexual social and cultural groups. Then they gave him the axe. They waited too long in my opinion but hell, I was failing trigonometry anyway...

[Neoliberalnot]

Hey, what’s the big deal? Just another member of the homosexual cult seeking close contact with children—its the lifestyle and couched in love. sarc

[Unam Sanctam]

According to Obama and the Democrats, if the Church operates a “business” like a school, it can’t require employees to practice Christian morality. It’s discriminatory..