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Patricia Jannuzzi Reinstated! (Cath. schoolteacher fired for Facebook comments critical of LGBT)
LifeSiteNews.com ^ | Apr 10, 2015 | LifeSite

Posted on 04/11/2015 4:20:36 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o


Patricia Jannuzzi

A teacher suspended from a Catholic school for using Facebook to defend traditional marriage has been reinstated.

Almost one month ago, Patricia Jannuzzi was suspended from Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey, after she made what became controversial comments about same-sex relationships. Over the next several weeks, she was told that the suspension was effectively a release from her job, as she would not be rehired for the 2016 school year.

Jannuzzi was also told that she had lost her pay and benefits for the current school year.

The scandal was compounded by the fact that the Diocese of Metuchen and Bishop Paul Bootkoski were involved in Jannuzzi’s suspension and publicly defended it.

In a media release provided by the Diocese of Metuchen to LifeSiteNews, however, Immaculata Director Monsignor Seamus Brennan announced on Friday that Jannuzzi would get her job back.

"Immaculata High School announced today that all issues related to the employment of teacher Patricia Jannuzzi are resolved," said the release. According to Brennan, "Immaculata High School has reached an understanding with Patricia Jannuzzi. It is the School’s position that a Catholic school teacher must always communicate the faith in a way that is positive and never hurtful. Tone and choice of words matter and I trust Mrs. Jannuzzi’s stated promise to strive always to teach in a spirit of truth and charity."

"Given Mrs. Jannuzzi’s otherwise good reputation as an educator over her 30 years at Immaculata, Principal Jean Kline and I have made the decision to reinstate her as a teacher as of today."

"From the beginning this was a personnel and not a theological issue," said the statement. "We are now and always have been united in our understanding and commitment to the teachings of the Catholic Church. By agreement with all parties involved, there will be no further comment on the issue.”

Since the controversy first arose several weeks ago, there has been a great deal of confusion as to where Jannuzzi stood with the diocese. Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski first said that the theology teacher was on paid leave, but e-mails showed that Jannuzzi had been effectively fired, as the school was intending to not rehire her in the fall.

Jannuzzi, who received praise even from some critics for the quality of her teaching and her relationship with students, ran into trouble when she posted a number of comments against same-sex "marriage" on her personal Facebook page, which the diocese mandated she close down.

“One minute they argue hey [sic] are born this way and it is not a choice to get 14th amendment rights equal protection” – which was intended for “unchangeable characteristics such as race and disability,” she wrote. Then, “they will argue everyone should be able to choose” to engage in the homosexual lifestyle.

Same-sex relationships and its agenda threaten to “reengineer Western civ[ilization] into a slow extinction," wrote Jannuzzi.

“We need healthy families with a mother and a father for the sake of the children and humanity,” she concluded.

Jannuzzi, Brennan, and Immaculata's principal did not immediately return LifeSiteNews' request for comment, though the letter indicates that the parties have agreed not to comment further. A spokesperson for the diocese said the media release would be its only public comment on the reinstatement.

While at least two celebrities -- including a former student of Jannuzzi's -- called for her firing, orthodox Catholics stood behind the teacher. A petition launched jointly by LifeSiteNews and the Lepanto Institute received more than 5,000 signatures, and the family raised approximately $33,000 in an online petition that was later halted.

Princeton Professor Robert George, who had raised the alarm about Jannuzzi’s suspension, thanked the school in a comment on his Facebook page.

“Sometimes---not often enough, but sometimes---justice is done and things come out right,” he said. “This was one of those times. I am grateful to Immaculata High School and Bishop Paul Bootkoski for doing the right thing. I suspect that Susan Sarandon and the ‘Real Housewives’ guy are feeling a bit less friendly towards them, which, to me, is something to be proud of."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New Jersey; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: abortion; badbishop; bootkoski; deathpanels; facebook; homosexualagenda; immaculata; immaculatahigh; indiana; libertarians; medicalmarijuana; metuchen; mikepence; newjersey; obamacare; patriciajannuzzi; popefrancis; rfra; romancatholicism; somerville; zerocare
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Reinstated: after the SHTF, the Lepanto Institute started running radio ads challenging Bishop Bootkowski, Conservative Catholic talk radio took u her cause, and Catholics nationwide pushed hard on the principal, the pastor, and the bishop to hire her back again.

The bishop, Rev. Paul Bootkosk, conspicuously quivered, waffled, misspoke and then misspoke about his misspokenness.

I half suspect they'll find another opportunity to fire her after the brouhaha settles down.

But as it is, it's a victory for virtue. We HAVE to stand up and defend the intended victims, each and every time the Gay Mafia mobilizes to destroy normal decent people.

Lepanto Institute, we thank you.

Mrs. Jannuzzi, we salute you.

1 posted on 04/11/2015 4:20:36 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I gotta ask, is the bishop a butthurt homo lashing out at her in a seething rage due to a perceived personal sleight?
Because that is how he comes across to me.


2 posted on 04/11/2015 4:24:17 PM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

So she was politically opining based on the traditional beliefs of her church in a school that her church runs, and her church kicks her out for it? Because the ungodly made a stink?

Bock bock bock bock. That bishop is chicken. Maybe if he does not straighten up he should get the Boot-kowski, so to speak.


3 posted on 04/11/2015 4:25:30 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

The ones who fired her should be fired


4 posted on 04/11/2015 4:25:47 PM PDT by GeronL (CLEARLY CRUZ 2016)
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To: Darksheare

I think he looked and sounded like -— no comment.


5 posted on 04/11/2015 4:26:49 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Consciously suppressing my snark.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Oh boy.
I see it now.
May we give him purse suggestions?


6 posted on 04/11/2015 4:31:46 PM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
At several points Bp Bootkowski was asked point-blank whether he upheld the Catholic Church's teaching that homosexual acts are acts of "serious depravity" which are "intrinsically disordered" and "in no circumstances" to be approved.

Talk about watching an invertebrate quiver.

I'd like to see the bishop's early, repentant retirement.

7 posted on 04/11/2015 4:31:51 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Consciously suppressing my snark.)
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To: GeronL

Amen. Alleluia, alleluia.


8 posted on 04/11/2015 4:32:37 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Consciously suppressing my snark.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I remember reading about some of these issues, like would he support the catechism’s view of things.

As a Wascally Evangelical I had one small quibble. Homosexuals called to celibacy. Well, okay at first. However significant development is available in a seriously spiritual Christian life, and the love of God can remold the love of man. I’ve seen it happen and the bible suggests it too. But if this was his issue, he could have easily articulated it.


9 posted on 04/11/2015 4:35:03 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

It’s nice to have some good news for a change these days.


10 posted on 04/11/2015 4:48:59 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
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To: Mrs. Don-o
"Given Mrs. Jannuzzi’s otherwise good reputation as an educator over her 30 years at Immaculata, Principal Jean Kline and I have made the decision to reinstate her as a teacher as of today."

"We'll forgive her just this once."

I agree with others. The bishop and the director should both be fired.

11 posted on 04/11/2015 5:02:49 PM PDT by marron
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Who the hell is this Bootkowski, and why in the world is he a Catholic Bishop?


12 posted on 04/11/2015 5:10:43 PM PDT by miserare ("Reverence for life--life of all kinds--is the first principle of civilization." ~~Schweitzer)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Excerpted from the article:

“It is the School’s position that a Catholic school teacher must always communicate the faith in a way that is positive and never hurtful. Tone and choice of words matter and I trust Mrs. Jannuzzi’s stated promise to strive always to teach in a spirit of truth and charity.”

***

“Jannuzzi, who received praise even from some critics for the quality of her teaching and her relationship with students, ran into trouble when she posted a number of comments against same-sex “marriage” on her personal Facebook page, which the diocese mandated she close down.

“One minute they argue hey [sic] are born this way and it is not a choice to get 14th amendment rights equal protection” – which was intended for “unchangeable characteristics such as race and disability,” she wrote. Then, “they will argue everyone should be able to choose” to engage in the homosexual lifestyle.

Same-sex relationships and its agenda threaten to “reengineer Western civ[ilization] into a slow extinction,” wrote Jannuzzi.

“We need healthy families with a mother and a father for the sake of the children and humanity,” she concluded.”

Apparently her Facebook page statements condemning same-sex marriage were not made in the “positive and non-hurtful manner” in the “spirit of truth and charity” that her superiors would like her to demonstrate. Because there is always a “positive and non-hurtful manner” to say in the “spirit of truth and charity” that homosexual acts are acts of “serious depravity” which are “intrinsically disordered” and “in no circumstances” to be approved while simultaneously holding that same-sex marriage (a sacrament of the church), and gay adoption and everything else that the homosexual lobby is demanding is okay.

Is that the position of the school district now?


13 posted on 04/11/2015 5:10:57 PM PDT by Captain Rhino (Determined effort today forges tomorrow)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
Everyone is called to chastity (sexual virtue) as appropriate to their way of life. For the unmarried, it is chaste continence and celibacy. For the married, it is true, man-woman spousal union.

Same rule no matter what your "orientation" is.

I know that gay people seeking to avoid sin and live in a truly Christian manner, can experience several outcomes as regards their sexual feelings:

*Some* people in any of these three points may actually be able to succeed in a real man-woman marriage, no matter where they are on the "spectrum." So-called "Ex-Gay-Bisexual" Robert Oscar Lopez seems to be in this category, and has done some very thoughtful writing about it.

But I wouldn't want to imply that EVERY gay guy could turn heterosexual if he really, really wanted. That is just not the case.

Some just have deep-seated desire they have to resist all their lives, and cannot even experience attraction to a person of the opposite sex. In any case, I say God bless them, it's a cross to bear--- and we all have "crosses," don't we?

14 posted on 04/11/2015 5:11:04 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Stone cold sober, as a matter of fact.")
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To: miserare

Damfino.


15 posted on 04/11/2015 5:12:09 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops." - St. John Chrysostom, Bishop)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I’m not sure what this was supposed to be, a roundabout complete endorsement of that catechism item?

It does not say chastity. If it did, there would be nothing more to discuss from a biblical point of view.


16 posted on 04/11/2015 5:12:58 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Captain Rhino

You have grasped the absurdity of the situation.


17 posted on 04/11/2015 5:14:07 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops." - St. John Chrysostom, Bishop)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Crosses are the burdens that Christians endure for the sake of bringing blessings into the world. They can evolve, and should be expected to evolve as a Christian passes into greater maturity.

To paint a problem with this sin as some kind of static lifetime judgment really does not do God justice. God blesses according to faith. If you keep preaching static lifetime judgment, then the faith is not there.

This is one of the areas that Wascally Evangelicals have been more open about. Unconstrained by a church opinion that you have to bear the scarlet H, they allow for God’s mutability of their condition.


18 posted on 04/11/2015 5:16:51 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
You'll perhaps be interested in #2359 in the Catechism


19 posted on 04/11/2015 5:17:33 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops." - St. John Chrysostom, Bishop)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Why do things like this happen in a church when someone who is employed by the church defends its teachings on sexuality?

I’m reminded of the corporate pressure that forced politicians to back down recently on freedom of religion for those who disagree with gay marriage.

Is the Roman Catholic Church and or many of its subdivisions or institutions dependent on business money to help sustain them causing reluctance to have its clergy or lay teachers etc. express traditional views on sexuality?


20 posted on 04/11/2015 5:21:38 PM PDT by Nextrush ( FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, DON'T BE PASTOR NIEMOLLER)
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