Posted on 07/10/2015 6:55:13 PM PDT by markomalley
A Catholic school on the outskirts of Philadelphia has come under heavy attack in recent days after firing an openly lesbian teacher in a same-sex "marriage" with her partner.
Since 2007, Waldron Mercy Academy knew that teacher Margie Winters had been "married" to her lesbian lover, and rather than firing her, they kept her on as Director of Religious Education for a total of eight years, under the advisement that she keep her gay relationship secret and not discuss it with students or parents. Though she kept the order, describing it to reporters as "hard," faithful Catholic parents eventually found out about Winters' double life and complained to the school and to the Philadelphia archdiocese. Winters was fired shortly after, on June 22.
In a bizarre e-mail addressed to school faculty and parents last Friday, principal Nell Stetser first praised Winters for her "amazing contributions" to the school before saying, "In the Mercy spirit, many of us accept life choices that contradict current Church teachings, but to continue as a Catholic school, Waldron Mercy must comply with those teachings."
Though the Philadelphia archdiocese claims it had nothing to do with the firing, including a statement from Communications Director Ken Gavin that no discussion took place about "revoking the ability of the school to identify itself as Catholic," Winters believes her firing came as a result of the school's connection to the archdiocese, saying that the school worried that its "Catholic identity would be in jeopardy."
In a statement to reporters, Principal Stetser echoed Winters' assertions, saying she fired her to protect "the Catholic identity of Waldron Mercy Academy."
Though not specified, Pope Francis' upcoming visit to Philadelphia in September for the World Meeting of Families may have played a role in Winters' firing as well. Following the Supreme Court ruling that declared so-called same-sex marriage a constitutional right, Philadelphia archbishop Charles Chaput laid down the iron fist on weak Catholics, saying that "the last thing we need from religious — including Catholic — leaders in the face of this profoundly flawed Supreme Court decision is weakness or ambiguity." Chaput also made it clear "gay families" would be welcome to attend the World Meeting of Families but would not be welcome to lobby or advertise against Catholic teaching.
In the wake of Winters' firing, Waldron Mercy Academy faces a tough uphill battle against parents upset with its decision, and against local lawmakers as well.
Lower Merion Township, where Waldron resides, currently has anti-discrimination ordinances on the books preventing businesses from firing people based on "sexual orientation." Exemptions for religious institutions exist unless the institution receives support "in whole or in part by government appropriations." According to ThinkProgress, Waldron Mercy "has received more than $270,000 from Pennsylvania's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit, and students also receive financial aid through the state's Education Improvement Tax Credit. If found in violation of the ordinance, the academy could be held liable for backpay, required to rehire Winters, and [face] a penalty as high as $10,000, plus attorneys' fees."
Local politicians have also gotten in on the debate. Jim Kenney, the Democratic nominee for Philadelphia mayor, publicly called the archdiocese "cowardly men" too afraid to come out and take responsibility.
"If you're a Church official and you feel that strongly that this woman and her partner are such a threat to society, stand up and say so," Kenney said, while adding that he hopes "the Pope comes in September and really puts some people in line."
Considering Pope Francis has recently and emphatically condemned all forms of "gender theory" as destructive, Kenney likely won't get his wish.
We'll see...I'm nowhere near as optimistic as Mr. Bois.
No brainer. Fire her and keep her fired.
Why would anyone have a DRE in a perpetual state of grave sin?
Excommunicate every last one of the school administrators involved... Defrock the priests too... Idiocy.
There’s really no room to move here. Either a religious organization can function according to it’s principles of faith or the religion becomes illegal.
That pretty much sums it up.
What principles are at work here? This "Catholic" school knowingly kept a director of religious education who was living a depraved life of public sin. They should have closed the doors of that place years ago.
Be careful about what you say. Justice Anthony Kennedy may investigate you for being undignified.
“. . . .they kept her on as Director of Religious Education for a total of eight years, under the advisement that she keep her gay relationship secret and not discuss it with students or parents.”
Well, that was their first mistake. Let’s see, having a Director of Religious Education who is living in direct violation of Catholic teaching.
I won't be the arbiter of their religion. The church can permit it or not permit it of go halfway or whatever. There is something for everyone in a free country. But they all have a line somewhere they won't cross and if the state makes them cross that line, then we might as well start building prisons for thought crimes.
They had a lesbian as Director of Religious Education???!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!
She violated a condition of her employment!
It is in writing!
If she wasn’t willing to live up to it, that’s her problem.
There is something for everyone in a free country.
There may even be "something for everyone" in a Catholic organization, too. Heck -- Christ Himself said that he came to minister to those crippled by sin. There is no place, however, for a proud, public sinner leading religious education in a Catholic school. The most pathetic part of this story is that it took pressure from the parents to push the school to fire this person.
Bwahahahaha.....the only people Francis puts in line are trads.
IN this day and age, if you are a Christian in authority and do have have the evil ones “protesting” and condemning you, you are on the wrong path. Humanism is Christianity up-side-down and so is Islam.
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