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

[columbus]

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

My country is different.
You can't force people to keep agreements if you break your end of the deal.
As it should be.
Tom

 

[Skwim]

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.

And I assume their take on the matter is, Go ahead and party all you want, but if you can't make it into work, AGAIN, we have no use for you.

.

 

[epronovost]

My country is different.
You can't force people to keep agreements if you break your end of the deal.
As it should be.
Tom

What's illegal is discrimination based on sexual orientation. Making illegal agreements is of course illegal. You don't expect to see drug pimps bring their clients into court for failling to pay them. Those agreements are null and void.

 

[QuestioningMind]

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

It's precisely such lazy thinking that has our nation filled with willfully ignorant people. ANY news story should be examined on a case by case basis to determine it veracity. You're simply stating: There was a news story all over the internet that turned out to be false, so that means ANY story I hear about that I don't agree with must ALSO be false. How about actually investigating the story in question BEFORE you dismiss it as 'fake news'... just because you remember another story that actually was fake news.

 

[columbus]

You're simply stating: There was a news story all over the internet that turned out to be false, so that means ANY story I hear about that I don't agree with must ALSO be false.

That's your lazy thinking.
I didn't make any claims, except that there's very little information. Certainly not enough to make judgements about the players.
I don't claim to know what happened. The claims don't match such few facts as there are.

And frankly, I think it a tempest in a teapot. Internet SJWs getting their panties in a wad because it's easy and fun. The MAGA hat boys are just another example of that.
Tom

 

[Windwalker]

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

I would disagree with that as being "queer" is not a choice. It's who they are. Not being allowed to work a job you want to do because of some feature of your body you have no control over, is wholly unfair. They are right to ignore such "rules". And as it said in the article, while such "rules" may be on the book, to choose to enforce them is a dick move. I don't blame them for not disclosing something which frankly is none of their employer's business.

 

[QuestioningMind]

That's your lazy thinking.
I didn't make any claims, except that there's very little information. Certainly not enough to make judgements about the players.
I don't claim to know what happened. The claims don't match such few facts as there are.

And frankly, I think it a tempest in a teapot. Internet SJWs getting their panties in a wad because it's easy and fun. The MAGA hat boys are just another example of that.
Tom

Claiming that you don't know if it actually happened and you have no more reason to believe it's true than the MAGA story and leaving it at that is what's lazy. You're more than willing to brush it off as being no different than the MAGA story, yet you haven't investigated it to see if it might actually be true.

 

[MJ Bailey]

If it was your job to care, then maybe you should. Until then, what's the problem? If there is nothing arbitrary, and nothing warranting complete destruction (in other words no one wanting to harm anyone else) what's the problem? When there is immanent threats; that's when things become problematic, in all scenarios.

 

[whirlingmerc]

"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​

Respect for the sincere beliefs of religious folk doesn't figure in?

To a large degree it will depend on whether the goal was to teach in an atmosphere of immersion to long held sincere beliefs AND whether the person had a job doing that.

If he would be a caterer worker or a janitor or a bus driver or even a math teacher possibly OR if he taught catechism there might be a different answer depending on the school's philosophy of education and if they legally ascribe to having an immersive education in a Christian atmosphere. It depends

 

[Rachel Redeemed]

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.

 

[Rachel Redeemed]

And I assume their take on the matter is, Go ahead and party all you want, but if you can't make it into work, AGAIN, we have no use for you.

.

 

[Rachel Redeemed]

Landon, by accepting the job you agreed to the terms. Obviously, your statements are jokes. If they are not, go talk to a counselor.

 

[Glaurung]

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

If your measure of goodness is the extent to which one accepts the progressive moral paradigm especially in regards to sexual matters then yes, they're better than the Catholic Church. Most lay people (and even a significant portion of the clergy) have accepted the progressive, secular worldview to a lesser or greater extent. But what most people accept is no measure of truth. Christ told us that the truth is hard and most will not accept it. Those who try to live Christian lives, uncompromising on moral truth will be hated. Especially in a culture which has embraced sin as a positive good.

The Catholic school has no problem firing teachers in same-sex relationships, but do they go after divorced and remarried teachers the same way?

They should. Those who remarry without an annulment are in an objective state of mortal sin. Catholic institutions who have teachers living in open mortal sin with no intention of rectifying it commit scandal.

What about teachers who have (or participate in) an abortion?

That depends. There's a difference between an abortion as a past event long renounced and repented of and an abortion procured in full knowledge of its grave matter and in defiance of Catholic moral teaching. Such an abortion incurs automatic excommunication. (Latae Sententiae).

What about those who “sin” in other ways? As usual, they take homosexuality seriously, but no other “sin” is punished with the same vehemence.

It seems that way only because we live in a culture now obsessed with affirming it. (And pretends to be shocked, shocked and outraged that conservative religious institutions aren't getting on board). Homosexuality has been tolerated in western culture for longer than I have been alive. But the embrace of it as a positive good to be celebrated and affirmed is brand spanking new outside what would have been the dingbat fringe not more than a few decades ago.

Overall I am not sympathetic. The Catholic religion is clear in its teachings concerning sexuality. If you choose to work at an institution which claims to uphold those teachings then you're not a victim when your own public disregard of those teachings gets you dismissed. Your employment at any given institution is not a right.

 

[PruePhillip]

Is it any wonder religion is dying out?

See my profile below. As religion dies it takes other things with it.

 

[PruePhillip]

"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​

Cardinal Arinze "controversy" at Georgetown 2013.
"In many parts of the world, the family is under siege. It is opposed by an anti-life mentality as is seen in contraception,
abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. It is scorned and banalized by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery,
mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions and cut in two by divorce."

The accusations against Arizne came from the Catholic University staff and students - despite Arinze speaking from
Catholic doctrine.
Muslims are quite happy to see Westerners do this to themselves. They will inherit the West.

 

[Maximus]

Is it any wonder religion is dying out?

You mean in Europe and parts of North America. Christianity, worldwide, is growing. Islam too.

 

[Maximus]

"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​

What is so hard to understand here? The school has rules. The rules were broken and as a result a person was fired.

You come across as someone who hates Christians.

 

[wellwisher]

I would disagree with that as being "queer" is not a choice. It's who they are. Not being allowed to work a job you want to do because of some feature of your body you have no control over, is wholly unfair. They are right to ignore such "rules". And as it said in the article, while such "rules" may be on the book, to choose to enforce them is a dick move. I don't blame them for not disclosing something which frankly is none of their employer's business.

Even if queer is not a choice, hasn't the Catholic Church, for over a thousand years, demonstrated that it is humanly possible to use willpower to control sexuality; celibacy; Priests and Nuns are required to use willpower over sex, until they learn to sublimate sexual impulses with productive behavior. This may be too hard for most people, but it shows that it is humanly possible. We have choices over innate behavior.

Priests and Nuns may start out their careers with a wide variety of innate sexual preferences, but celibacy makes them all equal. They all have libido, albeit with differing targets. Most people can accept a priest with a macho or gay personality, if they are a good person. It is when they engage outwardly in certain behavior, that attitudes will change. If a macho priest was to engage in heterosexual sex, this can change attitudes. Some things need to done with discretion and remain on the low. Too much information, can sour attitudes, and impact the esprits de corps.

Many work places have drug and alcohol policies. Like the argument of being innately queer, many people could claim addiction is a sickness. They could try to use the argument of a sickness, beyond their control, to justify their behavior. Regardless, the policy remains because humans has choice and willpower. The unspoken trick is to not let it show, in the work place, so you are not targeted and set as an example.

My guess is sometimes when people have sex, especially taboo, they get a little too full of themselves and this attitude betrays a lack of discretion. It is like being drunk on the work place and getting too outspoken. This is a tell, that all can see, and will be acted upon by HR.

Remember this a Catholic School, connected to a Church that has set an example that shows that humans have willpower and choices over sex an other impulses. I am not saying all choices are easy, but one does have a choice. Dumbing down or sickness is not an option.

 

[Vouthon]

This is appalling.

Is there not an Employment Tribunal in the US where this decision can be contested on the basis of unfair dismissal, for breaching some American version of our Equality Act here in the UK?

Surely making people redundant on the basis of their sexuality and/or marital status amounts to discrimination?

Faith schools in the UK have to abide by our Equality Act, here's an example:

Equality and Diversity Policy

St Mary’s Catholic School is committed to the principle that every member of the school community is entitled to equal opportunities and treatment irrespective of ethnic or national origin, race, gender, physical disability, sexual orientation, marital status, social background or religion.

At St Mary’s our commitment to equal opportunities and treatment is informed by the teachings of the Catholic Church and the regulations of the Catholic Education Service (CES).​

 

[Altfish]

You mean in Europe and parts of North America. Christianity, worldwide, is growing. Islam too.

As is non-belief; religion is doing ok in Africa and other developing areas