Eastside Catholic president resigns amid uproar over firing

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Obama has looked the other way as millions of innocent unborn children are slaughtered, while President Putin has worked hard to reduce abortions in Russia and has supported legislation which will accomplish that.
Obama has created a totalitarian country where spying on everyone has increased.
Putin on the other hand has offered refuge to the whistleblower Edward Snowden, an American who is in danger of either capital punishment or at least long time in prison for revealing the Obama spy program, where every American has his phone call placed in a federal data base.
Need I go on as to how much better President Putin is?
Right, let’s ignore the fact that Russia right now is politically corrupt and totalitarian over one thing like abortion. You cannot, and I repeat cannot make abortion and homosexuality the only two things to base a leader’s good qualities on.

Russia experienced a massive population loss because of the Second World War. Either Putin did something about abortion, or the low birthrate/abortion rate would wipe the population out in a generation.
 
Right, let’s ignore the fact that Russia right now is politically corrupt and totalitarian over one thing like abortion. You cannot, and I repeat cannot make abortion and homosexuality the only two things to base a leader’s good qualities on.

Russia experienced a massive population loss because of the Second World War. Either Putin did something about abortion, or the low birthrate/abortion rate would wipe the population out in a generation.
Mercy me…is there ANYTHING more egregious than the slaughter of unborn, innocent children? Our country is politically corrupt with crony capitalism, election fraud, shadowy organizations promoting candidates, payoffs and bribes. We need to clean up our own house before complaining about the Russians.

As to the population loss after WWII that HARDLY impacts the pervasiveness of abortion in Russia today. Abortion is used as birth control and the number of women who have had multiple abortions in Russia is staggering.

Again, not claiming that the Russians or their President are saints but you seem to have a serious splinter/log problem and to be concerned about gays being able to adopt vis a vis millions of dead babies seems bizarre set of priorities…
Lisa
 
Mercy me…is there ANYTHING more egregious than the slaughter of unborn, innocent children? Our country is politically corrupt with crony capitalism, election fraud, shadowy organizations promoting candidates, payoffs and bribes. We need to clean up our own house before complaining about the Russians.
Of course you are right.
 
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I do not see how Sr. Mary’s resignation would come across as a victory for the protestors. They are are taking it as a victory but I view it as a refusal to remain and defend church teaching. It has long been a tactic for some to give the Church’s teaching while criticizing it at the same time. And that is the impression that I got from Sr. Mary’s comments that were made public. Perhaps it would be better for the new CEO to be more faithful in representing the teachings of the Church. Time will tell how this will all play out.
Yes, I agree. I am actually in the Pacific Northwest, so this is a local affair. I don’t know the school personally (not my neighborhood) or the details of what happened other than what has been reported in the press, but I think there is a pretty good chance that Sr. Mary’s resignation was largely motivated by ambivalence about defending the Church’s teaching. I regularly deal with local clergy who are clearly (and pretty openly) not in line with the Church’s teaching about homosexuality, the ordination of women, etc. The very lonely exception around here is the orthodox Catholic. You could actually view this resignation as a bit of a victory for those who stand up for the Church’s teaching - something along the lines of “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Or put another way, if you don’t really believe it’s a kitchen, maybe you shouldn’t be cooking in it in the first place.
 
Yes, I agree. I am actually in the Pacific Northwest, so this is a local affair. I don’t know the school personally (not my neighborhood) or the details of what happened other than what has been reported in the press, but I think there is a pretty good chance that Sr. Mary’s resignation was largely motivated by ambivalence about defending the Church’s teaching. I regularly deal with local clergy who are clearly (and pretty openly) not in line with the Church’s teaching about homosexuality, the ordination of women, etc. The very lonely exception around here is the orthodox Catholic. You could actually view this resignation as a bit of a victory for those who stand up for the Church’s teaching - something along the lines of “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Or put another way, if you don’t really believe it’s a kitchen, maybe you shouldn’t be cooking in it in the first place.
The newspaper in so. CA had an article about this. Accompanying the article were pictures of a lot of student protestors with signs at the Catholic school and interviews with a few of the protestors. Generally, they say that they favor same sex marriage, at least in this case, to the extent that they believe that it was unfair to fire the homosexual teacher.
 
I think there is a pretty good chance that Sr. Mary’s resignation was largely motivated by ambivalence about defending the Church’s teaching.
I don’t know. If it were true, then very people who should have been supporting her have already voiced happiness that she is gone.

Quoting from a local newspaper:

*Alumni Corey Sinser, who started the Keepmrz2013 campaign, said he thinks a combination of pressure from parents, students and alumni may have been a factor in Tracy’s resignation.

“This past week the board has listened and have done their homework,” he said. “The Zmuda situation has shed light onto a lot of issues at the school.”

He said parents, alumni and educators have had issues with communication and transparency during Tracy’s tenure. *

*Stephanie Merrow, the theater director for Eastside Catholic, who is marrying her partner next summer, said Eastside Catholic needs a new leader who can lead in a positive direction.

“She made a lot of missteps along the way,” Merrow said of Tracy. “In my fantasy, Polly Skinner would be the new president and Mark would be a great principal.”*
issaquahreporter.com/news/241573621.html

The situation seems to be complex, with more issues at stake than the firing of Zmuda.

(BTW, Polly Skinner is the current principal, and Mark apparently is a reference to Mark Zmuda, the former vice-principal.)
 
The newspaper in so. CA had an article about this. Accompanying the article were pictures of a lot of student protestors with signs at the Catholic school and interviews with a few of the protestors. Generally, they say that they favor same sex marriage, at least in this case, to the extent that they believe that it was unfair to fire the homosexual teacher.
I actually believe that this is just something that has come to a head and the school has been forced to deal with and will be better off because of it. There are faithful Catholic students attending Easide Catholic who have been saddened by all of the attention that the protestors have caused as well as other faithful Catholics who support the school- remember the two board members who called attention to this? There are people who are looking out for the good of the school, so I have heard, despite what the media portrays. We are blessed to have Archbishop Peter Sartain to shepherd the flock here in the Pacific Northwest.
 
Pope Francis has now strongly weighed in on the subject of Catholic schools upholding Church moral teachings:

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday met with a delegation from the University of Notre Dame (USA) on the occasion of the inauguration of the University’s “Rome Center.”

"The Pope also spoke about the vision of Notre Dame’s founder, Father Edward Sorin, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, calling it “central to the University’s distinctive identity and its service to the Church and American society.” Referring to the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, he spoke about “the missionary dimension of Christian discipleship,” which “ought to be reflected in a special way in Catholic universities.” “Essential in this regard,” he continued, “is the uncompromising witness of Catholic universities to the Church’s moral teaching, and the defense of her freedom, precisely in and through her institutions, to uphold that teaching as authoritatively proclaimed by the magisterium of her pastors.” Pope Francis said, “It is my hope that the University of Notre Dame will continue to offer unambiguous testimony to this aspect of its foundational Catholic identity, especially in the face of efforts, from whatever quarter, to dilute that indispensable witness.”

en.radiovaticana.va/m_articolo.asp?c=768716
 
Pope Francis has now strongly weighed in on the subject of Catholic schools upholding Church moral teachings:

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday met with a delegation from the University of Notre Dame (USA) on the occasion of the inauguration of the University’s “Rome Center.”

"The Pope also spoke about the vision of Notre Dame’s founder, Father Edward Sorin, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, calling it “central to the University’s distinctive identity and its service to the Church and American society.” Referring to the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, he spoke about “the missionary dimension of Christian discipleship,” which “ought to be reflected in a special way in Catholic universities.” “Essential in this regard,” he continued, “is the uncompromising witness of Catholic universities to the Church’s moral teaching, and the defense of her freedom, precisely in and through her institutions, to uphold that teaching as authoritatively proclaimed by the magisterium of her pastors.” Pope Francis said, “It is my hope that the University of Notre Dame will continue to offer unambiguous testimony to this aspect of its foundational Catholic identity, especially in the face of efforts, from whatever quarter, to dilute that indispensable witness.”

en.radiovaticana.va/m_articolo.asp?c=768716
👍👍👍 This needed to be said! We are so blessed by Pope Francis’s courage and his wisdom.

Lisa
 
On Jan 23rd, the school’s Board of Trustees, which governs the school,strongly backed the decision to fire the former vice-principal. They issued a formal statement following a closed meeting which was held for parents:

*Tonight at a parent and faculty meeting, the Eastside Catholic Board of Trustees reaffirmed that the school will not be rehiring Mark Zmuda. The Board stated that Mr. Zmuda has acknowledged he was aware of Catholic doctrine and further knew he was not in full compliance with his employment agreement.

At tonight’s parent and faculty meeting, the Board reiterated that the school is focused on a positive path forward guided by its three touchstones of Academic Excellence, Relationships and Servant Leadership. Eastside Catholic will remain a Catholic school and will support the teachings of the Catholic Church.
*
mynorthwest.com/11/2440381/Eastside-Catholic-School-will-not-rehire-gay-vice-principal
 
The school’s Board of Trustees, which governs the school, is strongly backing the decision to fire the former vice-principal. They issued a formal statement following a closed meeting which was held for parents:

*Tonight at a parent and faculty meeting, the Eastside Catholic Board of Trustees reaffirmed that the school will not be rehiring Mark Zmuda. The Board stated that Mr. Zmuda has acknowledged he was aware of Catholic doctrine and further knew he was not in full compliance with his employment agreement.

At tonight’s parent and faculty meeting, the Board reiterated that the school is focused on a positive path forward guided by its three touchstones of Academic Excellence, Relationships and Servant Leadership. Eastside Catholic will remain a Catholic school and will support the teachings of the Catholic Church.
*
mynorthwest.com/11/2440381/Eastside-Catholic-School-will-not-rehire-gay-vice-principal
👍 Good. The Holy Father’s words about Catholic schools putting the C back into Catholic will help support this decision. People are not paying to send their children to Catholic school so they can see Catholic doctrine being ignored if not defied.

Lisa
 
Yes, I agree. I am actually in the Pacific Northwest, so this is a local affair. I don’t know the school personally (not my neighborhood) or the details of what happened other than what has been reported in the press, but I think there is a pretty good chance that Sr. Mary’s resignation was largely motivated by ambivalence about defending the Church’s teaching. I regularly deal with local clergy who are clearly (and pretty openly) not in line with the Church’s teaching about homosexuality, the ordination of women, etc. The very lonely exception around here is the orthodox Catholic. You could actually view this resignation as a bit of a victory for those who stand up for the Church’s teaching - something along the lines of “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Or put another way, if you don’t really believe it’s a kitchen, maybe you shouldn’t be cooking in it in the first place.
If that was the case, why would she have fired the guy in the first place?
 
On Jan 23rd, the school’s Board of Trustees, which governs the school,strongly backed the decision to fire the former vice-principal. They issued a formal statement following a closed meeting which was held for parents:

*Tonight at a parent and faculty meeting, the Eastside Catholic Board of Trustees reaffirmed that the school will not be rehiring Mark Zmuda. The Board stated that Mr. Zmuda has acknowledged he was aware of Catholic doctrine and further knew he was not in full compliance with his employment agreement.

At tonight’s parent and faculty meeting, the Board reiterated that the school is focused on a positive path forward guided by its three touchstones of Academic Excellence, Relationships and Servant Leadership. Eastside Catholic will remain a Catholic school and will support the teachings of the Catholic Church.
*
mynorthwest.com/11/2440381/Eastside-Catholic-School-will-not-rehire-gay-vice-principal
Thanks for posting the update. It’s nice to see a Catholic stand up for the Church.
 
If that was the case, why would she have fired the guy in the first place?
I think she was pressured (correctly) to do it by the Archbishop. There was supposedly a meeting that occurred prior to the firing. I believe the Archbishop very likely asked the school to comply with the teachings of the Church - unofficially or officially I don’t know.
 
A large rally in support of Zmuda was held last night:

*Ousted Eastside Catholic vice principal Mark Zmuda still wants his job back, but a boisterous Seattle forum Friday night delivered an additional message: Whatever happens, the school is not going back.

Some 250 supporters of “Mr. Z” were welcomed to the parish hall St. Joseph Church to discuss the Catholic Church’s attitude toward gays and why it must change. An emotional Zmuda came onstage to announce formation of a “Stand with Mr. Z Foundation.”*

*Mary deRosas, a St. Joseph parishoner and Jesuit lay volunteer, disputed the Catholic hierarchy’s opposition to gay unions with these words: “The Church may say one thing about sexual orientation, but I hear God saying another.”

Such words have shocked some traditionalist Catholics, who see living their faith in terms of doctrine and obedience, even if teachings not fully comprehended must be taken on faith.

But deRosas argued, in human terms, the need to open up and respect people who love each other. “When we encounter somebody we (initially) fear and then turns out to be a normal person, that is when the conversion experience occurs,” she said.*
blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2014/01/31/ousted-mr-z-eastside-catholic-students-are-teaching-their-church/

The article notes that, nationally, most US Catholics are siding with deRosas.
 
A large rally in support of Zmuda was held last night:

*Ousted Eastside Catholic vice principal Mark Zmuda still wants his job back, but a boisterous Seattle forum Friday night delivered an additional message: Whatever happens, the school is not going back.

Some 250 supporters of “Mr. Z” were welcomed to the parish hall St. Joseph Church to discuss the Catholic Church’s attitude toward gays and why it must change. An emotional Zmuda came onstage to announce formation of a “Stand with Mr. Z Foundation.”*

*Mary deRosas, a St. Joseph parishoner and Jesuit lay volunteer, disputed the Catholic hierarchy’s opposition to gay unions with these words: “The Church may say one thing about sexual orientation, but I hear God saying another.”

Such words have shocked some traditionalist Catholics, who see living their faith in terms of doctrine and obedience, even if teachings not fully comprehended must be taken on faith.

But deRosas argued, in human terms, the need to open up and respect people who love each other. “When we encounter somebody we (initially) fear and then turns out to be a normal person, that is when the conversion experience occurs,” she said.*
blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2014/01/31/ousted-mr-z-eastside-catholic-students-are-teaching-their-church/

The article notes that, nationally, most US Catholics are siding with deRosas.
DeRosas seems to worship a false god. She also mistakes love and respect for ignoring a higher authority. Unfortunately our culture ignores reality and takes the kumbaya trail.
Lisa
 
Now I am in familiar territory - well acquainted with St Joseph Parish. (don’t attend there but have visited numerous occasions). They’ve been a thorn in the Archbishop’s side for a long time - and they are not alone. This is a pretty standard example of liberal Seattle “Catholics” in action. It’s ugly and pretty unrestrained. Sometimes I don’t know if the Church’s “wings” (traditional / progressive) can or even should stay under the same roof. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I deal with this all the time - gets old. What’s wrong the ELCA or maybe the Episcopalians, guys?
 
Now I am in familiar territory - well acquainted with St Joseph Parish. (don’t attend there but have visited numerous occasions). They’ve been a thorn in the Archbishop’s side for a long time - and they are not alone. This is a pretty standard example of liberal Seattle “Catholics” in action. It’s ugly and pretty unrestrained. Sometimes I don’t know if the Church’s “wings” (traditional / progressive) can or even should stay under the same roof. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I deal with this all the time - gets old. What’s wrong the ELCA or maybe the Episcopalians, guys?
Take heart Seattle. We have a winning team now.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd....x240/1722926_240240449482293_1603335345_n.jpg
 
*Mary deRosas, a St. Joseph parishoner and Jesuit lay volunteer, disputed the Catholic hierarchy’s opposition to gay unions with these words: “The Church may say one thing about sexual orientation, but I hear God saying another.”
So now she claims to be speaking for God?
 
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