[Roberts]

Continuing: One complaint - with the state Department of Labor - calls for an investigation of the employment practices of the diocese. The other - with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing - is a first step toward a lawsuit.

"Loretto rightly prides itself as an academic institution committed to vigorous debate of ideas and beliefs," said Bain's attorney, John M. Poswall of Sacramento. "Unfortunately, the action of the bishop, cowering to noisy fundamentalists, threatens to turn Loretto into a Taliban-style institution of thought control and repression."

James Sweeney, an attorney for the diocese, who had not yet seen the complaints, said he's confident the diocese handled the case appropriately.

"It's purely an internal matter of church discipline and is protected by the First Amendment," he said.

Weigand called for Bain's firing in early October in response to demands from an anti-abortion activist and mother of a Loretto student.

Weigand argued that Bain's previous volunteer work presented an irreconcilable conflict with church teachings and set a poor example for students at the all-girls school.

Poswall stated in the complaint that Bain's firing constituted sexual discrimination because it targeted "her beliefs and actions related to women's reproductive rights" and sought to make "an example of her as a woman, to other young women."

School officials knew Bain was not a Catholic and had her "own personal beliefs" when they hired her in August, Poswall stated.

Punishing her for having supported opposing values in the past is tantamount to religious discrimination, Poswall said.

Regarding the free speech claim, Poswall argued that Bain's volunteering was akin to a "political activity," which is a protected class of speech and a "fundamental right of all California employees."

[Roberts]

This woman needs to be buried by the legal system that she hypocritically tries to use to her advantage.

[sockmonkey]

Catholic Ping!

[Ohioan from Florida]

I am not surprised. Bain should be ashamed of herself, but of course, isn't.

[NYer]

School officials knew Bain was not a Catholic and had her "own personal beliefs" when they hired her in August, Poswall stated.

Bishop Weigand also notes that "persons who engage in activities fundamentally opposed to the teachings and beliefs of our Faith are disqualified from collaborating in the educational apostolate of the Church as principals, teachers, teacher's aides, or catechists. To this end, any person who has actively and publicly advocated or participated in activities contrary to the Gospel of Life, such as supporting or promoting abortion, lacks the threshold qualifications essential to minister to our young people in the Catholic educational apostolate."
Sacramento Bishop: No Place in Catholic Schools for Abortion Supporters

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[FormerNavyBrat]

Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but any thoughts as to whether or not this was a deliberate action on Bain's part?
Or, is it a sad commentary that someone thought that despite her very public "pro-choice" views & activities, that a Catholic school was a place to find employment.

[RKBA Democrat]

This was predictable. A very telling quote from the article: "School officials knew Bain was not a Catholic and had her 'own personal beliefs' when they hired her in August."

Which leads to a couple of questions: (1) why was she hired if it was known that her personal beliefs were in stark conflict with Catholic teachings? (2) was she hired specifically because of those beliefs?

Unfortunately, since this is the PRC, I suspect the Diocese will end up paying out to make this go away. In my view, that will be money well spent. Money even better spent would be to have the diocese take over the school and send the sisters to their much deserved retirement in Mahoneyland. Unfortunately, that probably won't happen absent intervention by Rome. The sisters know that absent their opening an abortion clinic on school grounds, the chances of Rome intervening are minimal.

An interesting object lesson in all this. Seems to be bearing out my hypothesis that what our apostates within the church are really interested in is the material wealth of the church. Something to think about when the next appeal for a big, pretty Cathedral or church or school comes up.

Granaries always seem to attract rats.

[sinkspur]

This is a nuisance lawsuit. California is a right-to-work state, which means that any employer can fire any employee for any reason, or no reason.

[narses]

+

[workerbee]

"Loretto rightly prides itself as an academic institution committed to vigorous debate of ideas and beliefs," said Bain's attorney, John M. Poswall of Sacramento. "Unfortunately, the action of the bishop, cowering to noisy fundamentalists, threatens to turn Loretto into a Taliban-style institution of thought control and repression."

Fortunately her attorney isn't using any over-the-top hyperbole to sway public opinion.

(/sarc)

[Psycho_Bunny]

I'm curious how this is different from firing employees who smoke in their own homes, on their own time.

[ElkGroveDan]

One of the more revealing aspects of all this has been listening to the cutey-pie little moral relativists who have been indignantly calling in to talk radio here in Sacramento the past week or so. It makes you wonder just what they are teaching them there.