Unmarried Catholic school teacher, fired after pregnancy, will pursue legal action [CC]

[PhiloMed]

Something tells me this girl needs someone to love her and forgive her. Someone to stand in front of her to protect from all those shouting at her. Someone that understands human weakness and knows how to save her. I think those that are accusing need to take a step back. Maybe grace is more important than punishing someone for a mistake (it is a mistake). The shame is probably punishment enough. Now its time love her and help raise the baby.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Absolutely! I hope that those criticizing her choice to sue to school would ALSO be the first to take her in if she needed it.

 

[Tony_Micelli]

I hope she wins her case, shame on the church for not preventing her unjust dismissal.

As if having sex and getting pregnant for a single lay women is unforgivable.

 

[Lochias]

Then I guess she should have been much smarter and just had an abortion. This way it wouldn’t have been a problem and she could still be seen as a “good Catholic” but the school.

Give me a break.

She also could have just not slept around, and actually lived the example she promised she would in the contract.

Details, details.

Your post is like saying “Well, that robber should have just murdered the hell out of that store-owner instead of running from him, that way there would have been no witnesses.”

You have no logic here. None. Zip. Zero.

 

[Lochias]

I hope she wins her case, shame on the church for not preventing her unjust dismissal.

As if having sex and getting pregnant for a single lay women is unforgivable.

All of you seem to keep conveniently ignoring the fact that she wasn’t fired specifically because she committed a sin; she was fire because…

SHE BROKE HER CONTRACT, SHE BROKE HER CONTRACT, SHE BROKE HER CONTRACT.

 

[josie_L]

I hope she wins her case, shame on the church for not preventing her unjust dismissal.

As if having sex and getting pregnant for a single lay women is unforgivable.

I’m not sure I want this either (if she wins it would invalidate our Catholic identity/teaching), i.e., I think there needs to be a middle ground, i.e., I don’t agree with the lawsuit (she broke her contract), however, I don’t know if the school took the best approach either (compassion should have played some part in the decision making process)!

God bless!

 

[josie_L]

Hey, truth is truth. I’m judging her actions. We are, in fact, allowed to do that.

She screwed up. She can take the resulting consequences like an adult, or she can do what she’s chosen to do instead.

Agreed, truth is truth, but apart from the errors/sins she committed, we must always remember to treat others with dignity, i.e., the words you chose were not the wisest in my humble opinion.

 

[vames]

A sheep may say that the shepherd was cruel to hook them about the neck with the staff and forcefully pull them away from the cliff (it is painful and left a bruise) but was it not his duty to lead him and the others that may follow on the safe path?

The shepherd tries to bring the sheep BACK to where the flock is. It is not a punishment. Firing a teacher is to throw her AWAY from the flock. It is a punishment. It’s to leave a pregnant woman without her salary and to get rid of her, not to care about her and help her to repent. The Catholics who fired her cared about the Catholic reputation of the school, not about the teacher as a human being.

Recently, there have been other similar reports with similar outcomes:

1)A vice principal who chose to publicly announce his homosexual relationship.
2)A priest refusing Eucharist to a homosexual “couple” after this appeared in a newspaper.
3)Now this article.

In all cases, those representing church teachings took no consequential action toward anyone (they did not presume to pry into one’s bedroom), until the individuals celebrated their actions in a public way. In so doing, they present themselves publicly as someone ineligible for employment, Eucharist, etc.; thereby forcing the school or priest to respond to this challenging situation, knowing they may be publicly chastised for standing firm on church teaching.

If a homosexual couple announces publicly that they are together, risking their job in the process, it means that both partners are in a pretty comfortable position - they can always find another job and aren’t faced with the physical limitations and additional expenses that a jobless pregnant woman has to cope with. So they can find some pleasure in “bragging” about their relationship, maybe even in openly defying their Catholic employer. But how, when and where did this teacher “brag” about her pregnancy? How did she try to get others to “celebrate” the fact that she had premarital sex? She was fired just because the diocese received an anonymous letter about her pregnancy!

Those who fired this teacher don’t have to cope with the physical limitations and additional expenses of a jobless pregnant woman, so they can afford to care only about themselves and the letter of the law. I can understand that - but to try to present this indifference towards the teacher as a proof of heroism and charity (a shepherd helping a sheep) is really reaching IMO.

 

[garn9173]

She was fired ***BECAUSE SHE BROKE HER CONTRACT. ***

No-one forced her to sign that contract at gunpoint. She made her bed, now she can lie in it.

Yep, agree 1000%. You know why you never see a New York Yankee with facial hair? All player contracts state the players will be clean shaven and have no hair below the neck line. A haircut and shave was the first thing Johnny Damon had to do when he signed with the team.

Aaron Boone was released by the same team for tearing his ACL in a pickup game of basketball, which was prohibited by his contract with the team.

The teacher had to agree to the contract has a condition of her employment. If the contract stated prohibited actions is grounds for termination, she has no sympathy from me.

 

[seaton2005]

She was fired ***BECAUSE SHE BROKE HER CONTRACT. ***

No-one forced her to sign that contract at gunpoint. She made her bed, now she can lie in it.

Let’s remember, the contract most likely will not hold legal weight. Strictly speaking, it’s been my experience that these contracts which are common in some Catholic schools for teachers will not hold weight in a civil court. Just because you have a contract does not mean you can discriminate or treat someone different. Would they treat a married teacher who became pregnant the same way? What about a teacher that become pregnant but plans to wed the father of her baby at some time in the future. Being pregnant is a natural event. Let’s wait for the courts to rule on this matter (if it gets to court). I suspect the dioceses in this jurisdiction will settle this case before it gets to the court. They won’t want this out in the courts. I support this teacher and her quest for justice. It is terribly troubling that a Catholic school/dioceses would fire her (contract or not) for being pregnant - married or not. Where’s the compassion? There are allot of lawyers that would love to have this case.

 

[Spanish_Donkey]

Some people here keep repeating the word “scandal”, and I have to concede that there’s one in this case. An institution which claims to be Catholic, with the approval of some clerics ordained to be alter Christi, has thrown a pregnant woman to the gutter because she committed a sin. Now let’s talk about forgiveness. Now let’s talk about compassion. That’s the only scandal. Anything else is a mixture of phariseism, clericalism, sophistry and coldheartedness.

Some people here keep talking about a contract. I’m going to remind them another contract that they have signed.

• Do you reject Satan?
• I do.
• And all his works?
• I do.
• Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?
• I do.
• Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?
• I do.
• Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?
• I do.

This contract is the baptism, through which you became a member of the Catholic Church.

How many times have you breached that contract? HOW MANY?

And meanwhile, you are here barking, running that woman down because she committed a sin and got caught.

For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mt 7, 2

 

[seaton2005]

Some people here keep repeating the word “scandal”, and I have to concede that there’s one in this case. An institution which claims to be Catholic, with the approval of some clerics ordained to be alter Christi, has thrown a pregnant woman to the gutter because she committed a sin. Now let’s talk about forgiveness. Now let’s talk about compassion. That’s the only scandal. Anything else is a mixture of phariseism, clericalism, sophistry and coldheartedness.

Some people here keep talking about a contract. I’m going to remind them another contract that they have signed.

• Do you reject Satan?
• I do.
• And all his works?
• I do.
• Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?
• I do.
• Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?
• I do.
• Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?
• I do.

This contract is the baptism, through which you became a member of the Catholic Church.

How many times have you breached that contract? HOW MANY?

And meanwhile, you are here barking, running that woman down because she committed a sin and got caught.

For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mt 7, 2

Well Said! Excellent!

 

[Lormar]

What about the children in the school?

 

[MomaMary8]

What about the children in the school?

Exactly!

and we wonder why our schools are so bad. This case makes me so sad. Sad that a young lady committed a mortal sin. Sad that another child will be born in scandal. Sad that another child has an increased risk of growing up in poverty because his/her parents chose to be selfish in their physical urges. Sad that a community of children now have to grow up just a bit faster and be taught why Miss Teacher has a baby but no husband. Sad that some student may doubt their faith and the Church’s teachings because of the uproar and fighting that one sinful encounter has created. Sad at the thought that a child/student may now grow up and leave the faith. Sad that a young woman who thought she was an adult enough to engage in sex was not an adult enough to approach her employers first and accept the consequences of her sin. Sad that a teacher would sue a school that teaches and cares for kids she was supposed to care and teach. Sad. Just sad.

 

[Lormar]

Exactly!

and we wonder why our schools are so bad. This case makes me so sad. Sad that a young lady committed a mortal sin. Sad that another child will be born in scandal. Sad that another child has an increased risk of growing up in poverty because his/her parents chose to be selfish in their physical urges. Sad that a community of children now have to grow up just a bit faster and be taught why Miss Teacher has a baby but no husband. Sad that some student may doubt their faith and the Church’s teachings because of the uproar and fighting that one sinful encounter has created. Sad at the thought that a child/student may now grow up and leave the faith. Sad that a young woman who thought she was an adult enough to engage in sex was not an adult enough to approach her employers first and accept the consequences of her sin. Sad that a teacher would sue a school that teaches and cares for kids she was supposed to care and teach. Sad. Just sad.

I couldn’t agree more with every sentence. Sad indeed.

 

[seaton2005]

Exactly!

and we wonder why our schools are so bad. This case makes me so sad. Sad that a young lady committed a mortal sin. Sad that another child will be born in scandal. Sad that another child has an increased risk of growing up in poverty because his/her parents chose to be selfish in their physical urges. Sad that a community of children now have to grow up just a bit faster and be taught why Miss Teacher has a baby but no husband. Sad that some student may doubt their faith and the Church’s teachings because of the uproar and fighting that one sinful encounter has created. Sad at the thought that a child/student may now grow up and leave the faith. Sad that a young woman who thought she was an adult enough to engage in sex was not an adult enough to approach her employers first and accept the consequences of her sin. Sad that a teacher would sue a school that teaches and cares for kids she was supposed to care and teach. Sad. Just sad.

Just curious about your use of the term “scandal.” Come on now. Is this really to the level of a scandal? Has it caused public outcry? Also think about this for a moment. Much of what you post is fairly value laden. You assume and allege that this baby, born to a single mom, will grow up in poverty. We really don’t know anything about the circumstances here of the teacher. Maybe she will wed the father soon. Because she is a teacher, I would think she would be marketable to teach and make a decent living (but I will say our teachers need to be paid much more). The dioceses and this Catholic school should be ashamed of themselves for firing this teacher. Your post goes on to make several statements such as: “selfish, physical urges” and the like. Isn’t that being a little judgmental and harsh? You then go on to question her status of an adult. What is most troubling is the statement that in essence the baby will be “born into scandal” (there’s that word again). Would a married teacher who became pregnant be required to approach her employer, or should she approach her employer about being pregnant? You suggest that this teacher should face her school "and accept the consequences of her sin. Not sure I follow you here. Public punishment for being pregnant. What? This is a case of discrimination and injustice pure and simple.

 

[sousley]

The shepherd tries to bring the sheep BACK to where the flock is. It is not a punishment. Firing a teacher is to throw her AWAY from the flock. It is a punishment.

This is a similar argument used by those asked to refrain from receiving Eucharist. The teachings of the Catholic Church are intended to aid one’s soul toward salvation. In this case, the teacher may say (a)“I’m proud of the school’s commitment to the kids by having positive role models consistent with Catholic teaching” or (b)“I’ll get them back and seek some type of retribution against them.” We always have a decision to make about how we respond to sanctions.

It’s to leave a pregnant woman without her salary

Unfortunate of course, although I don’t know whether there were any provision for severance offered.

and to get rid of her, not to care about her and help her to repent. The Catholics who fired her cared about the Catholic reputation of the school, not about the teacher as a human being.

We don’t know that any of these character attacks against the members of this school community are true.

If a homosexual couple announces publicly that they are together, risking their job in the process, it means that both partners are in a pretty comfortable position - they can always find another job and aren’t faced with the physical limitations and additional expenses that a jobless pregnant woman has to cope with. So they can find some pleasure in “bragging” about their relationship, maybe even in openly defying their Catholic employer.

I agree, in many cases, this is probably true.

maybe even in openly defying their Catholic employer. But how, when and where did this teacher “brag” about her pregnancy? How did she try to get others to “celebrate” the fact that she had premarital sex? She was fired.

I added back the first part but it is pertinent. I doubt she was openly celebrating premarital sex, but objectively, I would say that seeking out a nationally known attorney and filing a lawsuit against the school to “demonstrate her right-ness” (my words) would probably qualify as openly defying her Catholic employer.

just because the diocese received an anonymous letter about her pregnancy!

I am going to suggest that the content was most likely verified.

Those who fired this teacher don’t have to cope with the physical limitations and additional expenses of a jobless pregnant woman, so they can afford to care only about themselves and the letter of the law. I can understand that - but to try to present this indifference towards the teacher as a proof of heroism and charity (a shepherd helping a sheep) is really reaching IMO.

Again, we shouldn’t assert that the members of this community are uncaring or indifferent about this woman’s situation. I hope that she has supportive friends that will aid her during this time. We should all pray for her peace and security as a Christian community. But for a Catholic school to enforce Catholic teaching is not a reach, but a responsibility.

 

[sousley]

Exactly!

and we wonder why our schools are so bad. This case makes me so sad. Sad that a young lady committed a mortal sin. Sad that another child will be born in scandal. Sad that another child has an increased risk of growing up in poverty because his/her parents chose to be selfish in their physical urges. Sad that a community of children now have to grow up just a bit faster and be taught why Miss Teacher has a baby but no husband. Sad that some student may doubt their faith and the Church’s teachings because of the uproar and fighting that one sinful encounter has created. Sad at the thought that a child/student may now grow up and leave the faith. Sad that a young woman who thought she was an adult enough to engage in sex was not an adult enough to approach her employers first and accept the consequences of her sin. Sad that a teacher would sue a school that teaches and cares for kids she was supposed to care and teach. Sad. Just sad.

beautiful post.

 

[jilly4ski]

Her contract said she must agree “to follow a lifestyle in line with Catholic teachings”.

Does being pregnant without being married necessarily prove she broke the contract?

She committed a sin, yes. The term lifestyle seems to me to indicate embracing a way of life that clearly goes against Catholic teaching.

Is one act of fornication proof of lack of following “a lifestyle in line with Catholic teachings”.

Even is she made a good confession, and is living chastely now?

Couldn’t those be mitigating factors?

I don’t see it as being equal to gay marriage at all…even contractually.

In a scenario of Gay marriage the lack of following a lifestyle in line with Catholic teachings is blatant.

Actually if the contract was actually worded that loosely, then yes a one time, public sin, could certainly be interpreted as breaking her contract. It really depends on what the contract really says. I doubt that the quote from the article is an actual quote from her contract. (It does not sound like lawyer speak at all).

But if we had all the details, this would indeed be a good point to discuss. What actually qualifies as breaking the contract.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Actually if the contract was actually worded that loosely, then yes a one time, public sin, could certainly be interpreted as breaking her contract. It really depends on what the contract really says. I doubt that the quote from the article is an actual quote from her contract. (It does not sound like lawyer speak at all).

But if we had all the details, this would indeed be a good point to discuss. What actually qualifies as breaking the contract.

If a 1 time public sin could be interpreted that broadly…then I’m not sure the school could have any teachers.

I guess that the lawsuit will come down to how the contract is interpreted.

My children’s school has a provision for pregnant students and for any boy that fathers a child. Both receive the same treatment.

 

[Elizium23]

Respected canonist Dr. Ed Peters weighed in on this, and has not come down so favorably on the school’s side.

I agree that this is not a clear-cut case as would be with some of the others such as teachers entering a homosexual “marriage”. This is the case of one sin in the woman’s past making trouble for her. She is not necessarily an obstinate, persistent sinner. The school may know different, but I see no reason to pass judgement on her based on the information we have now.