[Suburban Philadelphia] Catholic School Teacher Says Gay Marriage Cost Her Her Job

[phil19034]

Main Line Catholic School Teacher Says Gay Marriage Cost Her Her Job
The director of religious education at a Roman Catholic elementary school outside Philadelphia says she was fired because of her same-sex marriage.

Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion sent an email Friday informing parents of the dismissal of Margie Winters, who had worked there for eight years.

Principal Nell Stetser said the school must comply with Catholic philosophy and that she had a duty to protect its future.

“In the Mercy spirit, many of us accept life choices that contradict current Church teachings,” she said, “but to continue as a Catholic school, Waldron Mercy must comply with those teachings.”

Winters was hired in 2007 and married her wife in Boston that same year.

While Winters was told she could be open with faculty, she told The Philadelphia Inquirer in Wednesday editions that administrators advised her to avoid discussing her personal life with students’ parents.

“So that’s what I’ve done,” she told the newspaper. “I’ve never been open. And that’s been hard.”

She said she kept a low profile about her marriage but at least two parents found out. One complained to the school, she said, and the other contacted the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Winters said she refused a request to resign and was fired in a June 22 letter from the school.

Lower Merion Township has an antidiscrimination ordinance that protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation. But religious institutions are exempt unless they are supported at least in part by government appropriations.

Stetser wrote in her email that she wants the issue to start a dialogue and bring about some clarity.

“My hope is the pain we experience today adds to the urgency of engaging in an open and honest discussion about this and other divisive issues at the intersection of our society and our Church,” Stetser wrote.

Some Waldron parents said they’re meeting Wednesday in support of Winters.

Nancy Houston, who plans to host the meeting with her husband, said the firing is “not something we’re going to accept quietly.”

Read more: nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Catholic-School-Teacher-Gay-Marriage-Fired-Pennsylvania-Lower-Merion-312619521.html#ixzz3fLChQVJV

This is exactly why there must be consistency in saying that if work for the Church or a Catholic School you must not live in an state of scandal and there should be a Catholic Code of Conduct for all employees.

These exceptions become a lawsuit when the goodwill is taken advantage of or when the situation becomes scandalous.

NOTE: this school is NOT an Archdiocesan school, it is a school founded by the Sisters of Mercy.

 

[Pulvis]

You make choices, you suffer the consequence. How could any right thinking individual not realize that joining oneself into a homosexual (fake) marriage would disqualify them from being employed by a Catholic school? Really? This fruit loops culture is absolutely of the rails. We are really gaining steam on our societal trip down the toilet.

 

[Allegra]

Why in the world would she be hired as director of religious education? Why would someone even apply for such a position if they didn’t believe in the teachings of the Church? It’s be one thing if she was the gym coach or the secretary, but seriously, I don’t see why anyone would want to spend their career teaching something to children that they don’t believe is true.

 

[GEddie]

You make choices, you suffer the consequence. How could any right thinking individual not realize that joining oneself into a homosexual (fake) marriage would disqualify them from being employed by a Catholic school? Really? This fruit loops culture is absolutely of the rails. We are really gaining steam on our societal trip down the toilet.

Let’s all do penance and maybe the flush won’t get pulled.

ICXC NIKA

 

[DeniseNY]

You make choices, you suffer the consequence. .

Not in this day and age. If you try to enforce rules and impose consequences for breaking those rules, you’re somehow a villain.

 

[meltzerboy]

Read more: nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Catholic-School-Teacher-Gay-Marriage-Fired-Pennsylvania-Lower-Merion-312619521.html#ixzz3fLChQVJV

This is exactly why there must be consistency in saying that if work for the Church or a Catholic School you must not live in an state of scandal and there should be a Catholic Code of Conduct for all employees.

These exceptions become a lawsuit when the goodwill is taken advantage of or when the situation becomes scandalous.

NOTE: this school is NOT an Archdiocesan school, it is a school founded by the Sisters of Mercy.

Since this is a Catholic school that operates in accordance with Church teaching, which is opposed to gay marriage, then her being fired is the appropriate course of action by the administration.

 

[MonikaBarbara]

Good.
At least some Catholic schools are still holding close to Christ.
And yes…if you don’t believe yourself, why be a hypocrite and teach the Faith to children?

 

[Johann_du_Toit]

Why are Catholic institutions being specifically singled out by the “Tolerance” brigade to change their teachings and practices to accommodate their ideology of moral relativism?

 

[Viki63]

Why are Catholic institutions being specifically singled out by the “Tolerance” brigade to change their teachings and practices to accommodate their ideology of moral relativism?

Maybe for the same reason that Herod went after the infant Jesus?
Instigated by the same evil forces.

.

 

[phil19034]

Why are Catholic institutions being specifically singled out by the “Tolerance” brigade to change their teachings and practices to accommodate their ideology of moral relativism?

1. because the devil knows that the Catholic Church is the true Church.
2. because the Catholic Church is the one single largest Christian sect in the world with over 1.2 Billion baptized members. If the secularists can get the Church to change (wishful thinking) then they feel that 1.2 billion people will accept their twisted ideology.

 

[AnnArbor]

I think part of the issue is the fact that she apparently worked for eight years in this position with the tacit approval of the administration. Perhaps someone should also be holding their feet to the fire.

 

[zz912]

I think part of the issue is the fact that she apparently worked for eight years in this position with the tacit approval of the administration. Perhaps someone should also be holding their feet to the fire.

Agreed.

 

[phil19034]

I think part of the issue is the fact that she apparently worked for eight years in this position with the tacit approval of the administration. Perhaps someone should also be holding their feet to the fire.

yes, this has been a problem with some of the schools, especially independent ones like this one.

They allow a gay DRE as long as it’s kept quiet. Then the DRE gets married, and it’s ignored out of misplaced “mercy” as long as there is no scandal.

The DRE keeps her situation quiet, but parents find out and boom… scandal.

The ONLY option is the for Catholic schools to have a zero policy.

No divorce and remarriage without annulment
No unchaste unmarried teachers (this covers a lot)
No active homosexual activities
No adultery
No IVF
No abortions or being pro-abortion
etc.

And personally… I’m of the opinion that Catholic Schools need to hire only:

1. orthodox Catholics who attend Mass regularly
2. willing to sign a Catholic code of conduct
3. willing to take a vow of obedience to the local bishop

 

[zz912]

Why in the world would she be hired as director of religious education? Why would someone even apply for such a position if they didn’t believe in the teachings of the Church? It’s be one thing if she was the gym coach or the secretary, but seriously, I don’t see why anyone would want to spend their career teaching something to children that they don’t believe is true.

Because then they get to teach, or NOT teach, those things they disagree with.

How many hundreds of children do you think are now malformed in their thinking because this person was “educating” them on the faith? She obviously cannot teach it properly, since she vehemently disagrees with it.

There are just too many homosexuals who are employed by Catholic schools and dioceses for this to be coincidence. This is a targeted campaign.

 

[Mongo]

Why are Catholic institutions being specifically singled out by the “Tolerance” brigade to change their teachings and practices to accommodate their ideology of moral relativism?

Because tolerance doesn’t exist other than as a transition from one position to a new one. As soon as the transition is complete, the old position is intolerable. Liberals used to preach tolerance of homosexuality. Now that gay marriage is the law of the land, being opposed to gay marriage can’t be tolerated. They may preach diversity, but they ultimately want conformity.

 

[Thomas_White]

The school erred greatly in ever hiring this person for the position of director of religious education. Since her status was known by the school when she was hired eight years ago, the school could be liable if it cannot now show proper cause for her sudden firing these eight years later.

Unfortunately, since her “marital status” was known for those eight years, a court of law would be unlikely to now view this status in itself as a proper cause for discharge, the presumption being that, absent evidence to the contrary that was presented as cause at the time of her termination, she performed her job satisfactorily for the length of her employment.

 

[meltzerboy]

Because then they get to teach, or NOT teach, those things they disagree with.

How many hundreds of children do you think are now malformed in their thinking because this person was “educating” them on the faith? She obviously cannot teach it properly, since she vehemently disagrees with it.

There are just too many homosexuals who are employed by Catholic schools and dioceses for this to be coincidence. This is a targeted campaign.

A targeted campaign by whom: homosexuals or Catholic schools and dioceses?

 

[ComplineSanFran]

yes, this has been a problem with some of the schools, especially independent ones like this one.

They allow a gay DRE as long as it’s kept quiet. Then the DRE gets married, and it’s ignored out of misplaced “mercy” as long as there is no scandal.

The DRE keeps her situation quiet, but parents find out and boom… scandal.

The ONLY option is the for Catholic schools to have a zero policy.

No divorce and remarriage without annulment
No unchaste unmarried teachers (this covers a lot)
No active homosexual activities
No adultery
No IVF
No abortions or being pro-abortion
etc.

And personally… I’m of the opinion that Catholic Schools need to hire only:

1. orthodox Catholics who attend Mass regularly
2. willing to sign a Catholic code of conduct
3. willing to take a vow of obedience to the local bishop

Really??? Given that teachers, at least where I live, are unionized, I don’t think you can ask in a job application what your past or present sex life is, what your health care decisions are, or how often you go to Mass. Are you going to ask this of not only teachers, but of the cleaning staff? the phys ed coach? the file clerk in the library?

And what is an Orthodox Catholic? Are you going to have a check list of what that means? Again, the union is not keen on judging personal practices outside the work place. And who is going to be the watch dog? Nanny cams in people’s homes?

And vows to the Bishop? Really??? That is done with priests of the Diocese and not anyone else, as far as I know. What if it is a Jesuit school? Not responsible to the Bishop.

I believe you are remembering when the nuns taught schools. That doesn’t happen so much anymore. You have lay people who are teaching math and science and Chinese and soccer, etc.

Look at some ultra Orthodox Jewish schools in NY as examples. They bring in the rabbis and others within the community to teach religion. The secular subjects are taught by seculars. It seems to work just fine.

 

[saintjohnxxiii]

Read more: nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Catholic-School-Teacher-Gay-Marriage-Fired-Pennsylvania-Lower-Merion-312619521.html#ixzz3fLChQVJV

This is exactly why there must be consistency in saying that if work for the Church or a Catholic School you must not live in an state of scandal and there should be a Catholic Code of Conduct for all employees.

These exceptions become a lawsuit when the goodwill is taken advantage of or when the situation becomes scandalous.

NOTE: this school is NOT an Archdiocesan school, it is a school founded by the Sisters of Mercy.

Assuming the facts to be true as in the link it makes the School Administration and Faculty to be just as horrible in my opinion. Consider for years that teachers and administration knew she was violating the terms of the contract but so as long students and their parents knew, then they would be just as guilty of the sin as the fired person themselves.

You also have to wonder if every teacher accepted this person’s lifestyle or were teachers who are faithful to the spirit of this requirement were bullied into silence until the Diocese became aware.

These schools are not going to teach the children the real faith if they are of the attitude that the only sin is that which is out in the open.

 

[Allegra]

Really??? Given that teachers, at least where I live, are unionized, I don’t think you can ask in a job application what your past or present sex life is, what your health care decisions are, or how often you go to Mass. Are you going to ask this of not only teachers, but of the cleaning staff? the phys ed coach? the file clerk in the library?

And what is an Orthodox Catholic? Are you going to have a check list of what that means? Again, the union is not keen on judging personal practices outside the work place. And who is going to be the watch dog? Nanny cams in people’s homes?

And vows to the Bishop? Really??? That is done with priests of the Diocese and not anyone else, as far as I know. What if it is a Jesuit school? Not responsible to the Bishop.

I believe you are remembering when the nuns taught schools. That doesn’t happen so much anymore. You have lay people who are teaching math and science and Chinese and soccer, etc.

Look at some ultra Orthodox Jewish schools in NY as examples. They bring in the rabbis and others within the community to teach religion. The secular subjects are taught by seculars. It seems to work just fine.

Private schools are not required to negotiate with any union. Some do, in good faith, but there’s no legal requirement for them to do so. Also PE teachers are actual certified teachers. They generally are responsible for teaching sex ed, so yeah, you want to make darn sure they are faithful to the teachings of the Church!

There’s nothing preventing asking an applicant to sign a statement that they will uphold the teachings of the Church. However, enforcement is another story. In this case, it’s obvious that the person shouldn’t have been hired as a religion teacher and I wonder about the motives of a person even applying for such a position when they are against the teachings of the Church in the first place.