Massachusetts Court: Catholic School Can’t Refuse To Hire Married Gay Man

[Bubba_Switzler]

A state court in Massachusetts has ruled that a Catholic preparatory school violated the state’s antidiscrimination law when it rescinded a job offer to a man because he was married to another man.

Matthew Barrett had accepted a job as Food Service Director at the Fontbonne Academy, a Catholic girls school. On his employment forms, he listed his husband as his emergency contact — a move that led the school to rescind the job offer.

On Wednesday, Superior Court Associate Justice Douglas Wilkins ruled that Fontbonne discriminated against Barrett based on sexual orientation and rejected the school’s arguments as to why it should be exempted from the state law or otherwise not subject to its employment discrimination ban.

Barrett’s lawyers from Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders praised the judge’s ruling as “the first of its kind in the country.”

buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/massachusetts-court-catholic-school-cant-refuse-to-hire-marr

 

[exnihilo]

This seems like a good ruling. By good I mean given the law which does allow for a reasonable religious exemption if you only serve people of your religion. This is in keeping with public accommodation theory. Personally I find public accommodation theory to be terrible and incompatible with freedom of conscience. But most Americans, including many in the church, advocate this principle. This is what you get and I don’t see how you can complain if you are in favor of having the government protect against discrimination.

There is going to be a tremendous waste of resources as these cases are fought. The victories will require a radical restructuring of the church’s interaction with society.

 

[St_Francis]

I thought this had already been clarified by the USSC in the Hosanna-Tabor case? It seems like the judge’s ruling focused more on the fact that the school does not not serve only Catholics rather than on the non-teaching nature of the position (head of Food Services), so the school may be in a better position to appeal this decision.

But this is a sad symptom of where our country is now…

 

[Biggin]

But yet, any private institution may dismiss any individual for things they deem unsavory?!?!?
I am talking about Private Colleges. Non Religious. But yet, a Catholic School has to be forced to accept?

 

[MiserableSinner]

I hope God uses this to make Catholic schools stop admitting non-Catholic students. Why do non-Catholics go to Catholic schools and why should the Church let them?

Do you want an atheist teenager corrupting yours with lies from the Devil when you spent the money on Catholic school to keep them away from that stuff? Or how about a Muslim confusing their view of Christ?

Do we really believe it is the will of God that we admit non-Catholic students to Catholic schools full of children that God purchased with His own Blood?

Acts 20:26
26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

No it is not His Will!

Are we looking to do God’s Will?

 

[Regina7]

I hope God uses this to make Catholic schools stop admitting non-Catholic students. Why do non-Catholics go to Catholic schools and why should the Church let them?

Do you want an atheist teenager corrupting yours with lies from the Devil when you spent the money on Catholic school to keep them away from that stuff? Or how about a Muslim confusing their view of Christ?

Do we really believe it is the will of God that we admit non-Catholic students to Catholic schools full of children that God purchased with His own Blood?

Acts 20:26
26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

No it is not His Will!

Are we looking to do God’s Will?

Around where I live, there are many non-Catholics in the Catholic schools; our public schools aren’t so great, so Catholic schools are an alternative for a good education. The result? A total loss of Catholic identity.

 

[boomerang]

I still can’t get over the fact that gay people want to apply for jobs at Catholic schools. If I were gay, a Catholic institution would be the last place I’d want to work.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I hope God uses this to make Catholic schools stop admitting non-Catholic students. Why do non-Catholics go to Catholic schools and why should the Church let them?

Do you want an atheist teenager corrupting yours with lies from the Devil when you spent the money on Catholic school to keep them away from that stuff? Or how about a Muslim confusing their view of Christ?

Do we really believe it is the will of God that we admit non-Catholic students to Catholic schools full of children that God purchased with His own Blood?

In all the years I was a professor, there was never a prohibition on admitting non-Catholic students. Quite the opposite. My non-Catholic students were no less dear to me for being non-Catholic and their dedication to the programme of study was always impressive to me. I would never have thought it to be the will of God that they be excluded and, in fact, that concept is actually offensive to me

When I ministered in a Catholic hospital, there was never a prohibition on admitting or treating non-Catholic patients either.

Jesus shed His blood for the salvation of those who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church, thanks be to God.

 

[Virga]

I hope God uses this to make Catholic schools stop admitting non-Catholic students. Why do non-Catholics go to Catholic schools and why should the Church let them?

Do you want an atheist teenager corrupting yours with lies from the Devil when you spent the money on Catholic school to keep them away from that stuff? Or how about a Muslim confusing their view of Christ?

Do we really believe it is the will of God that we admit non-Catholic students to Catholic schools full of children that God purchased with His own Blood?

I can understand frustration towards seeing our schools being denied the right to act in accordance with our faith, but I disagree that Catholic schools should only admit Catholic students.

It’s up to those who run the school to try try their best to commit to teaching the faith. Plenty of schools in third world countries run by religious orders admit many non-Catholic children. My dad was taught by French brothers in Cambodia when he was young. He, like a number of students, was Buddhist, but thanks to the education he received and many other graces of God, he converted.

Students can’t be insulated from the world forever. And unfortunately, not every person who is Catholic will be a good influence either. Plenty of of my Catholic classmates lived in ways contrary to the faith when I went to a Catholic high school.

All the non-Catholic students are God’s children as well, even if they don’t believe it. Perhaps our children can influence them in good ways instead of the other way around.

 

[Mardi_M]

So one lot won’t be discriminated against, they discriminate against another lot.
That’s the way it works in our society.
The rights of Christians following their conscience are ignored and trampled upon, in so many ways now

 

[MiserableSinner]

I can understand frustration towards seeing our schools being denied the right to act in accordance with our faith, but I disagree that Catholic schools should only admit Catholic students.

It’s up to those who run the school to try try their best to commit to teaching the faith. Plenty of schools in third world countries run by religious orders admit many non-Catholic children. My dad was taught by French brothers in Cambodia when he was young. He, like a number of students, was Buddhist, but thanks to the education he received and many other graces of God, he converted.

Students can’t be insulated from the world forever. And unfortunately, not every person who is Catholic will be a good influence either. Plenty of of my Catholic classmates lived in ways contrary to the faith when I went to a Catholic high school.

All the non-Catholic students are God’s children as well, even if they don’t believe it. Perhaps our children can influence them in good ways instead of the other way around.

Or they might convince your child that God doesn’t exist, or all religions lead to God, that we are all God’s children (we are not - only those who have been baptized are children of God), that we can commit mortal sin and it’s not a big deal because we are all sinners, and your kid might end up dying spiritually and potentially losing their soul.

Mission schools like in Cambodia are different.

To the other poster:

Professor, your political correctness is dangerous to souls. You are looking at this like you were just a teacher. Did you often think about the fact that each of your students were going to one day die, meet the Lord, and be judged? And that some of them might be lost to eternal fire because of willful sin and lies from the Devil? You had a primary job that was far more important than teaching the class. Helping get your students to Heaven!

I think I know what the problem is. People are not taking this literally. It is literal.

Do most people in the Catholic Church know what the word “heresy” means in today’s Church? It seems to have spread throughout the whole Church in America and other 1st world countries. Should we risk souls being lost so that we can accommodate the world? Should we risk our children being taken captive by Satan just because we can say “well there are bad Catholic kids sometimes too.” Do people making decisions like this fully understand that God makes a distinction, and there is a big difference, between a Catholic and a non-Catholic? Do people making these decisions even think about the fact that so many are being taken captive by Satan? Do people still care if people go to Heaven or Hell?

 

[MiserableSinner]

Jesus shed His blood for the salvation of those who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church, thanks be to God.

Jesus died for ALL of the sins of mankind. Even those who are going to be in Hell forever and ever.

You didn’t say stuff like this to your students did you?

Do you believe that heresy can cause souls to be lost?

Why does it seem like no one cares if teenagers and middle schoolers are taken captive by the literal Devil?

1 John 3:8
Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.…

People who practice sin are in the Devil’s hands. Literally. The Fallen Angel who wants all of our souls in eternal fire. Should we let people who are literally of the Devil, and we know they are of the Devil, spread their errors to our teenagers who are already some of the main targets of the Devil? Is that the will of God?

Do people teaching our children believe the Bible is the literal Word of God and that all of the Church’s Doctrine and Dogma is 100% without error and from the Holy Spirit? Anyone who does not believe this should not be around Catholic teenagers who are already fighting an impossible battle that can only be won by God’s grace.

 

[sennincatholic]

I also don’t get why someone living the homosexual lifestyle will apply for a job in a Catholic school knowing very well the trouble it will cause.Such stories make me truly believe they do it intentionally.

 

[Paganus]

“The judge said the exemption applies only if a religious organization limits admission. Fontbonne is open to students and employees of all faiths.”

In other words, the religious exemption protects only non-“catholic” faiths.

This is only the beginning. Build your priest holes while ye may

 

[exnihilo]

I also don’t get why someone living the homosexual lifestyle will apply for a job in a Catholic school knowing very well the trouble it will cause.Such stories make me truly believe they do it intentionally.

Many are doing this intentionally. Since the courts became an instrument to reshape society it is a tool that is going to be used. There is speculation that the court decision to make sodomy a right came from a case concocted by homosexuals to force the issue.