New co-worker is an anti-Catholic bigot

[dulcissima]

Amen to that. I have my Catholic calendar hanging on the wall, but that’s about it. I figure it wouldn’t be in my best interest to hang a crucifix in my office, especially being the only Catholic in the building.

One of my co-workers whose office is near mine is Orthodox and a professor of art history. I had a cross on my wall and a Divine Mercy prayer card on my desk. I think she noticed and has started giving me things for my office. I now have a Mary icon, incense and petrified wood from St Catherine’s Monastery in Mt. Sinai, and just retired the Marian calendar she gave me last year. I work at a liberal public university and sort of feel like no one will dare to say anything anti-Catholic around me now since it is pretty obvious that I am Catholic.

Rpp, I would only talk to him one on one if you are sure that you can stay calm and friendly. Otherwise going to HR might be a better solution.

 

[msugeotech]

That’s cool. I’d get some weird looks if I had some of that around here. I did help a guy out yesterday, who is not a Catholic, with his will. He knew I was Catholic, and wanted his “end of life” directives to match what the Church taught was moral. He told me, “I know the Catholic Church has done extensive research on this topic, and I wanted you to help me get my stuff squared away.” I thought that was neat!

 

[lizaanne]

I work for a major US corporation with hundreds of thousands of employees around the globe. We have a zero tolerance policy for work place harassment. As a matter of fact, every single employee has to complete an ethics training session every year and sign off that they agree with and will comply with the policy. It took me two hours to go through the course a few weeks ago.

This is a form of harassment, and you do not have to work in that environment. You do not have to say anything to this person, and personally I would not and risk the possibility of further harassment or even risk to your personal safety. I would go straight to my manager or anyone in leadership who I thought would be supportive and report this immediately.

Zero tolerance. No one should have to work in such an environment.

~Liza

 

[rpp]

Thank you all for the good advice. I tried to talk to him and he blew me off and walked away. Aparently he had just been reprimanded by our manager for his rather loud and foul language and had to apologize to our group for it. That is when I began to tel him his comments about the Pope and perpetuating the lie that he was a Nazi we quite offensive. I never even finished the sentence. He walked away.

Our manager heard this and came over. He apologized for the trouble and agreed this was inappropriate conduct at teh worplace and said he would work this out. He made it clear that he felt I had not done anything wrong and that this indeed was very serious and expression of bigotry.

I really did not want to have to take this to HR, but it looks like that is the only way to resolve this.

I am so churned up inside I feel like I have been in a car accident.

 

[Nanny_PK]

Thank you all for the good advice. I tried to talk to him and he blew me off and walked away. Aparently he had just been reprimanded by our manager for his rather loud and foul language and had to apologize to our group for it. That is when I began to tel him his comments about the Pope and perpetuating the lie that he was a Nazi we quite offensive. I never even finished the sentence. He walked away.

Our manager heard this and came over. He apologized for the trouble and agreed this was inappropriate conduct at teh worplace and said he would work this out. He made it clear that he felt I had not done anything wrong and that this indeed was very serious and expression of bigotry.

I really did not want to have to take this to HR, but it looks like that is the only way to resolve this.

I am so churned up inside I feel like I have been in a car accident.

Sounds like your supervisor is handling it. I would send a letter or e-mail to your supervisor as a follow-up just so there’s a paper trail and no reason for it to be “accidentally forgotten about.” Just my two cents.

 

[msugeotech]

Well, it sounds like his comments to you aren’t his only problem. Maybe you won’t have to take your issue to HR just yet. I’d just wait and see for a little while. Is your manager someone you trust to handle these kinds of problems?

 

[beckers]

I think there’s good advice here. Talk to him first, and if that doesn’t solve it, then go to HR.

On a side note for Kage: Wasn’t sexual harassment broadened to be defined as “creating a hostile work environment”? Seems like that’s what an attorney told us at an ethics seminar a while back.

If you really really want to know i can send you by appeallate brief on this very topic. Of course you would have to read 20 pages and try not to laugh since its based on the fictional company on “Dunder-Macon” and the guys name is “Dwight” who owns a beat farm… (all your office spacers should know) And of course since i am only a 1L and haven’t passed the bar it wouldn’t be legal advice but it would still be a good read.

to the OP:
I would suggest tell your co-worker privately and then go to HR. Don’t delay.

 

[msugeotech]

Love The Office!

“I am faster than 90% of all snakes…”

 

[rpp]

My manager just grabbed me for a private conversation on this matter. It seems this is bigger than I thought.

First it turns out that my manager and his director and the director of HR are all self-identified Catholics. (This is Oregon, who knew! ) They were all personally offended by the comment.

Next, this guy, the one who made the “Pope is a Nazi” comment has several other complains about his conduct, vulgar language, and other inappropriate comments, that are being processed through HR at this time. Just this morning he was given a written reprimand on an unrelated issue from HR and told to make a public apology to all the members of my group.

After I talked to my manager, he spoke to the director and they both took this matter HR. Apparently, when he met with HR, he insisted on his position that the Pope was a willing Nazi, but did concede that some people might find the “truth” offensive. I do not think that was a good strategy to take in roomful of Catholics. The offender has been sent home for the rest of the day to cool off and, using my manager’s words, “consider his options”.

Now I am worried he may lose his job or something. I hope not.

 

[LongingForLight]

Wow. I guess we should keep him in our prayers - that he keeps his job, and that God softens his heart to the truth, at least.

 

[gatorsmom]

To the OP:

I’m not sure you will see this before tomorrow morning, but I would like to add my suggestions as a former HR manager mentored by the VP of HR for a Fortune 500 company…

I wouldn NOT talk to your coworker about this. He is trying to start a fiight and it could turn into a hesaid- he said. I would put down in writing what exactly he said that offended you. I’d date that and save it on paper (this is for future documentation). I’d then send him an email letting him know that you are Catholic and would appreciate that he not make religious comments around you, to you, in front of you or in any way that could be offensive. I’d copy your immediate supervisor and someone in the HR department. If you can attach a return receipt option, it would be good to know he received it and read it. Then, print out a copy of the email you wrote, a copy of the return receipt, and keep it together with the paper recording his original comment. This is the best way to put your ducks in a row, let him know you will not be drawn into a fight, and you are very serious about ending this NOW.

HTH. Let us know how it goes!

prayers to you.

 

[reed987]

anti-catholic discrimination is everywhere. My local paper ran the most hateful (not to mention untrue) garbage you could imagine.

Surprisingly though when I called them they were very kind and apologized whole heartedly for it (they even decided to discontinue the woman who wrote the article) Youd be very surprised, if you actually stand up to these guys they’ll often feel ashamed and step down.

 

[Galnextdoor]

It sounds like you handled the situation well. I just hope that upset feeling has gone away. Did the guy come back to work today?

 

[srlucado]

Now I am worried he may lose his job or something. I hope not.

Don’t feel bad. He’s not losing his job–he’s throwing it away.

If his loud mouth is more important to him than being a professional, he doesn’t belong there.

 

[VivienneJ]

While this points out what a good and nice person you are rpp …

Now I am worried he may lose his job or something. I hope not.

… and this is one very practical step we can take for this person

Wow. I guess we should keep him in our prayers - that he keeps his job, and that God softens his heart to the truth, at least.

… this is a very insightful comment and worth remembering.

Don’t feel bad. He’s not losing his job–he’s throwing it away.

If his loud mouth is more important to him than being a professional, he doesn’t belong there.

It sounds as though this person has been skating on thin ice for quite a while, who knows, that may have been part of the reason for the staff re-shuffle, but he seems to have no desire to make any real changes in his behaviour.

 

[NowISee]

This happened to me also. A German woman I work with called our Pope “an evil man.” She thought she had authoritative info because she lived in Germany during his stint as an archbishop of (Munich?) She is non-Catholic. Well. I remained calm and asked her to please prove her allegation by telling me what was it exactly that this humble, holy man had done or said that was evil? She could not name a thing, but kept insisting that she knew because she lived in Germany. I did not let up in asking for proof until she finally stopped talking. She makes no more comments to me about Catholics or Catholicism and we remain cordial.

 

[Middleman]

I would have a private discussion with this co-worker. Explain that you find his remarks concerning the Pope and the Catholic faith offensive. Ask him politely to refrain from saying anything negative about your religion. He may not like the Catholic faith, and he is welcome to his opinions. However, he should not be allowed to encourage religious intolerance in the workplace. He should keep his disrespectful opinions regarding religion to himself. If he continues to slander the Catholic faith after your discussion with him, I would report him to your boss.

Excellent answer!

 

[Middleman]

My manager just grabbed me for a private conversation on this matter. It seems this is bigger than I thought.

First it turns out that my manager and his director and the director of HR are all self-identified Catholics. (This is Oregon, who knew! ) They were all personally offended by the comment.

Next, this guy, the one who made the “Pope is a Nazi” comment has several other complains about his conduct, vulgar language, and other inappropriate comments, that are being processed through HR at this time. Just this morning he was given a written reprimand on an unrelated issue from HR and told to make a public apology to all the members of my group.

After I talked to my manager, he spoke to the director and they both took this matter HR. Apparently, when he met with HR, he insisted on his position that the Pope was a willing Nazi, but did concede that some people might find the “truth” offensive. I do not think that was a good strategy to take in roomful of Catholics. The offender has been sent home for the rest of the day to cool off and, using my manager’s words, “consider his options”.

Now I am worried he may lose his job or something. I hope not.

It’s my understanding that the unemployment in Oregon is one of the highest in the nation. Your coworker is skating on thin ice with his behavior. I’m sure there are many good people who would love to have his job, which it sounds as if he is very close to losing.

I hope this fellow is a mentally stable individual. There have been several job related shootings in the news of late. They should exercise due vigilance, workplace related violence is on the rise.

 

[rpp]

Update.

This co-worker is now a former co-worker. Yesterday was his last day with the company. He found a job elsewhere and left apparently voluntarily. He made no parting shots which is to his credit and I, of course, made none either.

The tension in the office has already disappeared.

 

[maggie2]

I was going to say that you could try showing this man patience and love, and to pray that he might get a glimpse of the truth of the Catholic faith through your example, but since he no longer works there, I think the prayers alone would be the next best thing.

God loves this man - perhaps He crossed your paths for a reason…