Students Protest After Catholic School Fires Teachers in Same-Sex Relationships

[Skwim]

"Last week, two teachers at Kennedy Catholic High School, just outside of Seattle, Washington, were fired due to their same-sex relationships.

It’s not all that surprising. That’s what Catholic schools do because they’re bigoted institutions that believe homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered.” They have every right to do it too; as a private school, they get to decide what the rules are. Anyone who works for them — or attends the school — is agreeing to those rules.

But students didn’t take the news well. Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie were popular teachers who obviously did nothing wrong. It didn’t help that the school appears to have lied, telling parents that both teachers “voluntarily resigned.”

Since the firings, students have raised more than $33,000 via GoFundMe to help the teachers. And yesterday, there were two separate protests against the actions of the Catholic Diocese.

In the morning, protesters circled the block where Seattle’s Archdiocese office stands, pausing to chant (“Reinstate, not hate!” and “Separate, church and hate!”) and recite the Lord’s Prayer while holding hands.

Shortly after 10 a.m., Kennedy Catholic students made signs and staged a sit-in that clogged some of the school’s hallways. At 1 p.m., they walked out, meeting a crowd of several hundred people waiting at the bottom of the school’s front steps. They spilled out onto the lawn and spoke into a microphone in front of a banner that read, “Who would Jesus fire? #LoveisLove.” Kids and adults peered out through the school’s open windows.
​

The kids are much better humans than the Catholic priests making decisions on their behalf.

While some deluded parents can’t believe the school would fire gay teachers in same-sex relationships — one mother, we’re told, knew about the rules but “didn’t expect the school to act on it” — the firings raise a more important point about hypocrisy.

The Catholic school has no problem firing teachers in same-sex relationships, but do they go after divorced and remarried teachers the same way? What about teachers who have (or participate in) an abortion? What about those who “sin” in other ways? As usual, they take homosexuality seriously, but no other “sin” is punished with the same vehemence. If they can’t see the problem, or it doesn’t become public news, they usually don’t bother with it. (Moral of the story: If you’re a Catholic school teacher who has an abortion early in your pregnancy, you can still keep your job.)"
source​

 

[Altfish]

Is it any wonder religion is dying out?

 

[metis]

"Last week, two teachers at Kennedy Catholic High School, just outside of Seattle, Washington, were fired due to their same-sex relationships.

It’s not all that surprising. That’s what Catholic schools do because they’re bigoted institutions that believe homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered.” They have every right to do it too; as a private school, they get to decide what the rules are. Anyone who works for them — or attends the school — is agreeing to those rules.

But students didn’t take the news well. Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie were popular teachers who obviously did nothing wrong. It didn’t help that the school appears to have lied, telling parents that both teachers “voluntarily resigned.”

Since the firings, students have raised more than $33,000 via GoFundMe to help the teachers. And yesterday, there were two separate protests against the actions of the Catholic Diocese.

In the morning, protesters circled the block where Seattle’s Archdiocese office stands, pausing to chant (“Reinstate, not hate!” and “Separate, church and hate!”) and recite the Lord’s Prayer while holding hands.

Shortly after 10 a.m., Kennedy Catholic students made signs and staged a sit-in that clogged some of the school’s hallways. At 1 p.m., they walked out, meeting a crowd of several hundred people waiting at the bottom of the school’s front steps. They spilled out onto the lawn and spoke into a microphone in front of a banner that read, “Who would Jesus fire? #LoveisLove.” Kids and adults peered out through the school’s open windows.
​

The kids are much better humans than the Catholic priests making decisions on their behalf.

While some deluded parents can’t believe the school would fire gay teachers in same-sex relationships — one mother, we’re told, knew about the rules but “didn’t expect the school to act on it” — the firings raise a more important point about hypocrisy.

The Catholic school has no problem firing teachers in same-sex relationships, but do they go after divorced and remarried teachers the same way? What about teachers who have (or participate in) an abortion? What about those who “sin” in other ways? As usual, they take homosexuality seriously, but no other “sin” is punished with the same vehemence. If they can’t see the problem, or it doesn’t become public news, they usually don’t bother with it. (Moral of the story: If you’re a Catholic school teacher who has an abortion early in your pregnancy, you can still keep your job.)"
source​

Needless to say, that was that school's decision, which is certainly not shared by all. I don't agree with it myself, for just one example.

 

[columbus]

Needless to say, that was that school's decision, which is certainly not shared by all. I don't agree with it myself, for just one example.

I'm not even sure it actually happened.

I remember quite clearly when the internet was all in a froth because some MAGA hat wearing teenagers stalked and assaulted a native American elder.

That was bogus. I don't see any more reason to believe that this is actually true.
Tom

 

[Windwalker]

I'm not even sure it actually happened.

I remember quite clearly when the internet was all in a froth because some MAGA hat wearing teenagers stalked and assaulted a native American elder.

That was bogus. I don't see any more reason to believe that this is actually true.
Tom

There's a video of it that pretty clearly confirms what someone reads in the article. Maybe it was a "fake crowd"?

 

[columbus]

There's a video of it that pretty clearly confirms what you in the article. Maybe it was a "fake crowd"?

I remember videos from the MAGA hat wearing teenagers.
Tom

 

[Skwim]

Needless to say, that was that school's decision, which is certainly not shared by all. I don't agree with it myself, for just one example.

But isn't firing them going along with the policies of Catholicism?

 

[Windwalker]

I remember videos from the MAGA hat wearing teenagers.
Tom

The specifics in the article match what you see being flown and held in the hands of the protesters about the firing of gay faculty. There is a danger we can become so skeptical, that we become cynical beyond reason.

 

[columbus]

The specifics in the article match what you see being flown and held in the hands of the protesters about the firing of gay faculty. There is a danger we can become so skeptical, that we become cynical beyond clear reason.

No, they don't.
Paul and Michelle are being fired for being in a same sex relationship.

But, more to the point, the school probably has pretty clear policies about teacher's private lives. I'm not saying I agree with the policies, but I'm guessing that Paul and Michelle both agreed to them at some point and are now reniging on their agreements.

Sorry, but being queer doesn't mean you can just ignore your agreements, now that you want both the job and the relationship. Sometimes you have to choose.
Tom

 

[Milton Platt]

"Last week, two teachers at Kennedy Catholic High School, just outside of Seattle, Washington, were fired due to their same-sex relationships.

It’s not all that surprising. That’s what Catholic schools do because they’re bigoted institutions that believe homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered.” They have every right to do it too; as a private school, they get to decide what the rules are. Anyone who works for them — or attends the school — is agreeing to those rules.

But students didn’t take the news well. Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie were popular teachers who obviously did nothing wrong. It didn’t help that the school appears to have lied, telling parents that both teachers “voluntarily resigned.”

Since the firings, students have raised more than $33,000 via GoFundMe to help the teachers. And yesterday, there were two separate protests against the actions of the Catholic Diocese.

In the morning, protesters circled the block where Seattle’s Archdiocese office stands, pausing to chant (“Reinstate, not hate!” and “Separate, church and hate!”) and recite the Lord’s Prayer while holding hands.

Shortly after 10 a.m., Kennedy Catholic students made signs and staged a sit-in that clogged some of the school’s hallways. At 1 p.m., they walked out, meeting a crowd of several hundred people waiting at the bottom of the school’s front steps. They spilled out onto the lawn and spoke into a microphone in front of a banner that read, “Who would Jesus fire? #LoveisLove.” Kids and adults peered out through the school’s open windows.
​

The kids are much better humans than the Catholic priests making decisions on their behalf.

While some deluded parents can’t believe the school would fire gay teachers in same-sex relationships — one mother, we’re told, knew about the rules but “didn’t expect the school to act on it” — the firings raise a more important point about hypocrisy.

The Catholic school has no problem firing teachers in same-sex relationships, but do they go after divorced and remarried teachers the same way? What about teachers who have (or participate in) an abortion? What about those who “sin” in other ways? As usual, they take homosexuality seriously, but no other “sin” is punished with the same vehemence. If they can’t see the problem, or it doesn’t become public news, they usually don’t bother with it. (Moral of the story: If you’re a Catholic school teacher who has an abortion early in your pregnancy, you can still keep your job.)"
source​

I agree with you on all points. Unfortunately, this is a parochial school system set up specifically to accommodate their religious beliefs. They are within their legal rights, however unjust or immoral or hypocritical it may be.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

The kids are much better humans than the Catholic priests making decisions on their behalf.

Though I'm no expert, from what I understand to be the core of Christ's message, they appear to be better Christians, as well.

 

[Father Heathen]

If you're gay or pro gay rights, it makes little sense to teach at or attend a homophobic religious school. The article even points out that it was within their rights as a private school, irrational garbage beliefs aside.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Part of me can't sympathize all that much because they knew the risks when they accepted the job. The Catholic Church is very homophobic, so if that's who want to hitch your career to...

Sadly, those students are just wasting their time. The Church is not a democracy and they don't really care what the laity thinks. That's part of the reason why they're bleeding members like crazy.

 

[Father Heathen]

I remember videos from the MAGA hat wearing teenagers.
Tom

That was good lession about jumping the gun due to confirmation bias.

 

[columbus]

That was good lession about jumping the gun due to confirmation bias.

Which is why I'm not sure what's going on in this particular episode of internet outrage.

Except I know that people are outraged.
Tom

 

[Cooky]

"Last week, two teachers at Kennedy Catholic High School, just outside of Seattle, Washington, were fired due to their same-sex relationships.

It’s not all that surprising. That’s what Catholic schools do because they’re bigoted institutions that believe homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered.” They have every right to do it too; as a private school, they get to decide what the rules are. Anyone who works for them — or attends the school — is agreeing to those rules.

But students didn’t take the news well. Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie were popular teachers who obviously did nothing wrong. It didn’t help that the school appears to have lied, telling parents that both teachers “voluntarily resigned.”

Since the firings, students have raised more than $33,000 via GoFundMe to help the teachers. And yesterday, there were two separate protests against the actions of the Catholic Diocese.

In the morning, protesters circled the block where Seattle’s Archdiocese office stands, pausing to chant (“Reinstate, not hate!” and “Separate, church and hate!”) and recite the Lord’s Prayer while holding hands.

Shortly after 10 a.m., Kennedy Catholic students made signs and staged a sit-in that clogged some of the school’s hallways. At 1 p.m., they walked out, meeting a crowd of several hundred people waiting at the bottom of the school’s front steps. They spilled out onto the lawn and spoke into a microphone in front of a banner that read, “Who would Jesus fire? #LoveisLove.” Kids and adults peered out through the school’s open windows.
​

The kids are much better humans than the Catholic priests making decisions on their behalf.

While some deluded parents can’t believe the school would fire gay teachers in same-sex relationships — one mother, we’re told, knew about the rules but “didn’t expect the school to act on it” — the firings raise a more important point about hypocrisy.

The Catholic school has no problem firing teachers in same-sex relationships, but do they go after divorced and remarried teachers the same way? What about teachers who have (or participate in) an abortion? What about those who “sin” in other ways? As usual, they take homosexuality seriously, but no other “sin” is punished with the same vehemence. If they can’t see the problem, or it doesn’t become public news, they usually don’t bother with it. (Moral of the story: If you’re a Catholic school teacher who has an abortion early in your pregnancy, you can still keep your job.)"
source​

I just got fired from my job last Thursday. Nobody protested for me... No megaphones, banners or sit-ins in my name. No 'go fund me' page with tens of thousands of dollars either.

 

[Cooky]

Let's face it... This isn't really about Paul Danforth or Michelle Beattie at all. It's about what they stand for.

 

[Skwim]

I just got fired from my job last Thursday. Nobody protested for me... No megaphones, banners or sit-ins in my name. No 'go fund me' page with tens of thousands of dollars for me either.

Sorry, but maybe it's because of what you did. What did you did?


.

 

[Cooky]

Sorry, but maybe it's because of what you did. What did you did?

I was partying all night, and then was too tired to go to work, so I called off. Again.

...So what if I want to have a good time! Who cares..!?! I should be free to party and call off, it's my life.

 

[epronovost]

Sorry, but being queer doesn't mean you can just ignore your agreements, now that you want both the job and the relationship. Sometimes you have to choose.
Tom

In my country, making them chose between the two is illegal as it should be.