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

[Lochias]

I wonder if she had been raped and impregnated what they would have decided.

I think the obvious answer is that being raped isn’t a sin, and the Church knows that very well.

I feel this is an extremely uncharitable decision, although I recognise the contractual terms agreed too.

And she wasn’t being uncharitable by knowingly bringing scandal down on her workplace?

However, the catholic church offers the sacrament of reconciliation to all and recognises everyone is a sinner and all that this teacher has done, is to commit a sin and she has not done anything against church teachings, i.e. entered a SS marriage or had an abortion. If there were no sinners there would be no need for the church,

I think this decision is very wrong.

The school isn’t saying that she can’t have her sins forgiven, it’s saying that since she obviously has ZERO interest in upholding Catholic values in this area, she doesn’t need to cause scandal by working there.

This is simple, simple logic, folks. Take the blinders off.

 

[Lochias]

As I said in another thread – Thank God for non-Catholic employers!

Sinners need somewhere to work too.

She AGREED to uphold Catholic values, then broke that promise.

Thank God for non-Catholic employers, indeed…the liars and cheats need someplace to work, too.

 

[Lochias]

Really, what a lot of people here are angry over is the fact that a woman who lied about her promise to uphold a Catholic lifestyle isn’t being allowed to evade the consequences of her lie.



If we’re going to go down this route, I demand the ability to steal and punch people in the face without being jailed, reprimanded or fined.

 

[pepipop]

IMO this does not give a good message to the students, in relation to mercy and the church. Why not allow the teacher to explain that she sinned against God and hence is pregnant but she did not choose to have an abortion. I think that would send a better message to students than making some feel shocked, angry and bitter at the lack of mercy shown within the catholic faith. Children are impressionable, this will not leave a good impression except for emotions of fear and anguish against sinning and lack of mercy. Let’s hope a young student that happens to find herself pregnant, will not be too scared about being thrown out of school and then decides an abortion is the best option.

 

[Burt_Macklin]

All seems like a really good reason for keeping your personal life to yourself. The school didn’t need to know if she was married or single. If she was pregnant everyone could have just assumed that she was married. No need to be nosy.

 

[josie_L]

The school is completely justified. If you don’t want to live a Catholic lifestyle, then don’t work in a Catholic school system. Its so simple.

But people can and do make mistakes in the heat of the moment!

 

[pollynova]

I wonder if a teacher has ever been fired for skipping mass?

 

[Burt_Macklin]

I wonder if a teacher has ever been fired for skipping mass?

That would be nearly impossible to prove. If a teacher says they are unmarried and then becomes pregnant you have incontrovertible proof something is amiss.

 

[pollynova]

That would be nearly impossible to prove. If a teacher says they are unmarried and then becomes pregnant you have incontrovertible proof something is amiss.

Not really. Just have a sign-in sheet.

 

[jilly4ski]

Not really. Just have a sign-in sheet.

No, people travel, go to different Churches (in fact many teachers and staff members prefer to go to Mass other places. People get sick or have to care for sick children, cars don’t start,etc.

 

[jilly4ski]

IMO this does not give a good message to the students, in relation to mercy and the church. Why not allow the teacher to explain that she sinned against God and hence is pregnant but she did not choose to have an abortion. I think that would send a better message to students than making some feel shocked, angry and bitter at the lack of mercy shown within the catholic faith. Children are impressionable, this will not leave a good impression except for emotions of fear and anguish against sinning and lack of mercy. Let’s hope a young student that happens to find herself pregnant, will not be too scared about being thrown out of school and then decides an abortion is the best option.

This is very impractical for a variety of reasons. Like I said I don’t know what grade level this person teaches, but I would be very angry if she started to explain to my elementary aged children that she fornicated (and what that is) and is now pregnant. For secondary education students, you would then have an someone who they now know for sure that fornicated, standing up in front of them and telling them about the Churches moral teachings. For this age group, it doesn’t really matter what you say, it is what you do. (Why do you think teenagers always throw around the word hypocrite around their parents?). It doesn’t really matter if she tells them she has repented, if she is a good teacher, the feelings the students have for her will elicit the students to “feel for her” and think that her actions are not so bad. Teenagers today have a hard enough time with thinking that fornication is grave matter and a sin.

 

[pollynova]

This is very impractical for a variety of reasons. Like I said I don’t know what grade level this person teaches, but I would be very angry if she started to explain to my elementary aged children that she fornicated (and what that is) and is now pregnant. For secondary education students, you would then have an someone who they now know for sure that fornicated, standing up in front of them and telling them about the Churches moral teachings. For this age group, it doesn’t really matter what you say, it is what you do. (Why do you think teenagers always throw around the word hypocrite around their parents?). It doesn’t really matter if she tells them she has repented, if she is a good teacher, the feelings the students have for her will elicit the students to “feel for her” and think that her actions are not so bad. Teenagers today have a hard enough time with thinking that fornication is grave matter and a sin.

And what happens the next time a teacher or student finds herself pregnant? They’ll think, “Gee, they sure raked Miss Johnson over the coals when she got pregnant. I don’t want to lose my job or face that kind of humiliation. I guess I’ll just have an abortion and save myself all that trouble.”

 

[Lochias]

I wonder if a teacher has ever been fired for skipping mass?

Not really. Just have a sign-in sheet.

If people could read minds, you might have a point. As things stand, however, this is just sour grapes.

And what happens the next time a teacher or student finds herself pregnant? They’ll think, “Gee, they sure raked Miss Johnson over the coals when she got pregnant. I don’t want to lose my job or face that kind of humiliation. I guess I’ll just have an abortion and save myself all that trouble.”

As opposed to thinking “Gee, maybe I shouldn’t sleep around like Miss Johnson did…I love God, and don’t wish to sin against Him, and also don’t want to lose my job!” ?

I find it morbidly fascinating, how quickly you think this is going to lead to some kind of abortion-filled free-for-all.

 

[Lochias]

The school is not required in any way, shape or form to allow scandal in their hallways because one woman couldn’t keep her legs shut.

Actions have consequences. That’s life. This woman needs to do some serious growing up.

 

[jilly4ski]

The school is not required in any way, shape or form to allow scandal in their hallways because one woman couldn’t keep her legs shut.

Actions have consequences. That’s life. This woman needs to do some serious growing up.

I feel badly for the lady. She messed up (do we even know if she is Catholic?). The people who feel very strongly about this issue should perhaps start a fund for an administrative leave with pay for teachers who violate their contracts in such a way. That way the school could afford to keep her on the payroll despite needing to hire another teacher. The problem is, that everyone is looking at this from the teacher’s point of view, “we feel bad for her” but the schools first and most important priority is its students. That is the view point we must take in this debate.

 

[pollynova]

If people could read minds, you might have a point. As things stand, however, this is just sour grapes.

As opposed to thinking “Gee, maybe I shouldn’t sleep around like Miss Johnson did…I love God, and don’t wish to sin against Him, and also don’t want to lose my job!” ?

I find it morbidly fascinating, how quickly you think this is going to lead to some kind of abortion-filled free-for-all.

People sin. That’s just the way it is. People have premarital sex. Even Catholic people. And they are going to keep having it. We should do all we can to show them that it’s the wrong way. But once they have committed the sin, should we react with compassion or just shun them?

 

[pollynova]

I find it morbidly fascinating, how quickly you think this is going to lead to some kind of abortion-filled free-for-all.

I think it’s naive of you to think it wouldn’t.

 

[pepipop]

This is very impractical for a variety of reasons. Like I said I don’t know what grade level this person teaches, but I would be very angry if she started to explain to my elementary aged children that she fornicated (and what that is) and is now pregnant. For secondary education students, you would then have an someone who they now know for sure that fornicated, standing up in front of them and telling them about the Churches moral teachings. For this age group, it doesn’t really matter what you say, it is what you do. (Why do you think teenagers always throw around the word hypocrite around their parents?). It doesn’t really matter if she tells them she has repented, if she is a good teacher, the feelings the students have for her will elicit the students to “feel for her” and think that her actions are not so bad. Teenagers today have a hard enough time with thinking that fornication is grave matter and a sin.

Exactly, if she was a well liked teacher, then the students will be flabbergasted at how unmerciful their God/church is, that their favourite teacher has been thrown out because she was pregnant. I think every child (student) born in the western world is well aware of what fornication is, it’s thrown in their face day in, day out, media, music etc… and also they will, no doubt, have relatives and friends of their families ‘living in sin’.

Mercy and kindness has a far stronger pull than ‘throwing stones’.

 

[kozlosap]

The school is not required in any way, shape or form to allow scandal in their hallways because one woman couldn’t keep her legs shut.

Actions have consequences. That’s life. This woman needs to do some serious growing up.

Is this post for real? It reminds me of some of the statements made by GOP candidates before the last election. Not one of those trolls won. As a Catholic, we support life in all instances and that should also include the ability to financially support a baby.

 

[Spanish_Donkey]

" *And Jesus went unto mount Olivet. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him, and sitting down he taught them. And the scribes and the Pharisees bring unto him a woman taken in adultery: and they set her in the midst, And said to him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery. Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest thou?

And this they said tempting him, that they might accuse him. But Jesus bowing himself down, wrote with his finger on the ground. When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again stooping down, he wrote on the ground. But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee?

Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.* " John 8, 1-11

Fortunately, this incident took place in Jerusalem, the Holy Land, around the year 30 AD; and the righteous men with the stones had the good sense to slip away quietly. Had it happened in Butte, Montana, the USA, in 2014 AD, the outcome might have been different.

A question to those who say: “she should have thought about it twice before fornicating, etc, etc, etc…”: Are you really so pure? Not a single sin against the sixth commandment in your life? Haven’t you ever allowed an impure thought in your mind, not for a second? If you have, you may want to take a look at Mt 5, 27-28. If you haven’t, congratulations! I hope that God does not decide to place you in Heaven anything near those saints with a past, like St Augustine or St Mary Magdalene.

To deprive a pregnant woman of her livelihood is villainy. It is something that a decent man, religion aside (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, Atheist, Scientiologist, whatever) would never do.

But we can always consider the matter from a legalistic point of view and focus on what the Law of Mos… , the contract that she signed says.