Posted on 12/31/2012 10:32:41 AM PST by marshmallow
DAYTON, Ohio — An unmarried Catholic school teacher who said she was fired after telling her principal that she was pregnant is suing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
It's the second lawsuit that's been filed in the last two years against archdiocese over the firing of a pregnant teacher.
Kathleen Quinlan, who taught first grade at Ascension Catholic School in Kettering in suburban Dayton, said she was told to resign or she would be fired, on the same day she told the school's principal in December 2011 that she was expecting. She said she had offered to take a behind-the-scenes job until she gave birth.
Quinlan, of Dayton, who later had twin girls, said in her lawsuit that she was given three days to clear out her classroom.
A termination letter said she was fired for violating a section of her employment contract that requires employees to "comply with and act consistently in accordance with the stated philosophy and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church," according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court .
Her attorney said that, "as a non-ministerial employee, (she) was not subject to a 'morality clause.'"
(Excerpt) Read more at therepublic.com ...
She knew the rules she was agreeing to when accepting employment, and she broke them.
Case closed.
When I was in HS in the 60s, even a married woman couldn’t teach if she was pregnant.
Misses the point that the problem was not being pregnant but the act that got her pregnant. Any bets that married pregnant teachers exist in the Catholic system?
I have a cica 1830 church book...says folks were found dancing....and kicked out of the church...no questions asked.....OUT...
I have a circa 1830 church book...says folks were found dancing....and kicked out of the church...no questions asked.....OUT...
It wasn’t because she was pregnant, but because she wasn’t married and was pregnant. Hence the “morality clause.” That said, I think they should have put her on leave immediately and given her time either to rectify the situation by getting married, or to find another job.
My kids attended 12 yrs. of Catholic school. If any of their teachers had been pregnant outside of marriage, they would have been attending another school.
Hor$eShit!, Typical ambulance chaser who doesn't know $hit about the law. She signed the contract with a morality clause. She was over the age of 18 and had a college degree and a state license. She should have enough mental capability to read a standard contract.
Regardless, she is an ‘AT WILL” employee. The School has every right to terminate a person who goes against the moral standards of an institution. It is no different that being involved in any other violation of the rules.
Unclear On the Concept award for Miss Quinlan. Probably it's best if she chooses a profession other than teaching, lest the students end up equally incapable of using reason.
She broke the rules she agreed to when she took the job.
I’m a little hesitant about this, because she could have chosen to go off and have a secret abortion, pretending that she had the flu for a week or something. At least she chose to bring the twins to life, instead of killing them to keep her job.
But it’s their decision.
I don’t think giving her time to get hitched is a solution, as the problem isn’t being pregnant and not married, the problem is having engaged in consensual marital activity while not being married. Marrying after the fact doesn’t change the status of the activity—and often is only a way to further mess up one’s life.
Does this mean that a married teacher that uses birth control can be fired also?
regarding the right to fire the teacher, legally it depends on what was in the contract. Was moral behavior defined more precisely?
I am also guessing there may be more info that we are not privy to. I would hope that a young woman who made a mistake ( we all do) and decided to give birth and change her life would receive compassion and understanding. However if said young woman is “shacking up” and has no desire or intent on changing her behavior than she really has no place teaching in the catholic schools.
At least she isn’t a nun.
It should.
Does this mean that a married teacher that uses birth control can be fired also?
If she is using it such a way that it becomes public knowledge she should be fired.
One can see that kind of reasoning leading to a sort of moral blackmail: "Nobody is allowed to disapprove of or exact consequences for any sexual behavior ... because at least I didn't have an abortion." That's almost the default setting already for even the most irresponsible actions. "Don't judge me - I didn't have an abortion."
Boy did that keep us puberty ravaged boys interested in her subject matter.
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