Catholic high school fires teacher who applied for gay marriage license

[trotsky]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/catholic-high-school-fires-teacher-who-applied-for-gay-marriage-license/2013/12/09/67255bf6-6112-11e3-a7b4-4a75ebc432ab_story.html

Michael Griffin says it was no secret that he is gay at the suburban Philadelphia Catholic high school where he taught for more than a decade. But last week when he told administrators at Holy Ghost Preparatory School that he was going to marry his partner he was fired.

The episode is the latest in a string of similar incidents, and it came just a week after New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan said the church is not “anti-gay” but has been “outmarketed” on the issue of gay marriage.

In this case, Griffin, 35, an alumnus of Holy Ghost who taught languages there for 12 years, was dismissed Friday (Dec. 6) in a meeting with the school president, the Rev. James McCloskey, and the principal, Jeffrey Danilak. Griffin had emailed Danilak earlier in the week to say he might be late for an in-service day on Friday because he was applying for a marriage license with his partner in New Jersey, a state that legalized gay marriage this year.

Later Friday, McCloskey and Danilak told Griffin that if he intended to go through with the marriage he would be fired.

But hey, the new pope said he wouldn't judge gay people, so I guess it's all good.

[Auntie Bush]

1. Guess they are not listening to the Pope!

Actions like this is why Teacher Tenure was started.

[trotsky]

28. Actually, they ARE listening to the pope.

If you analyze what he said, it was that he wouldn't judge gay people who &quot search) for the Lord and (have) good will."

You have to look at that quote within the Catholic teaching that sex outside marriage is evil and a sin. (Which itself is a softening of the original stance that any sex not intended to produce a child is sinful!) Since homosexual marriage is not allowed by the church, ANYONE who has homosexual sex will always be sinning. Aw, how "convenient" that Catholic apologists can try and absolve their leaders of bigotry by essentially claiming that they have to - their hands are tied by arbitrary dogma. Shucks!

To the church, the only way a gay person can "search for the Lord and have good will" is to remain celibate. (Or live a lie, and marry someone of the opposite sex.)

This is what frustrates me about the new pope - he knows how to say things to make it appear to be a softened stance, but the hatred, the bigotry, the homophobia are all still there.

[Goblinmonger]

2. They have a right to do this, I think.

It makes them assholes that they do. I wish things like this and the other millions of similar examples would mean that progressive Catholics would stop supporting this fucked up institution with their numbers, time, and money but we know that won't happen.

Go New Pope!

[trotsky]

3. I agree, this is within their right.

They even warned him.

But hey, the new pope sure is running a great PR campaign. Those warm & fuzzy feelings should help make up for ruined lives, right?

[rug]

4. You're correct. Here's the letter from the school.

http://www.holyghostprep.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=662

An interesting side note is that, while this decision was probably dictated by the archdiocese, which Chaput heads, Archbishop Lefebvre of SSPX fame had been at one time the Superior General of this Congregation.

[rug]

5. You may want to edit your comment.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/12/09/lawrence-catholic-academy-teachers-fired-for-out-of-wedlock-pregnancy/

It's about all sex outside marriage.

[cleanhippie]

6. These aren't the same people.

Looks like a different story.

[rug]

8. They are two different stories.

One common theme.

The first story is about a gay teacher who intends to marry his partner.

The second is about two straight teachers who are having a child outside marriage.

All three were fired.

The common theme is no sex, straight, gay or solo, outside marriage.

[Goblinmonger]

12. Bullshit

There is nothing in the gay marriage article or letter that indicates he is being fired because he had sex outside of marriage (which they couldn't prove like they can with the pregnant woman).

Later Friday, McCloskey and Danilak told Griffin that if he intended to go through with the marriage he would be fired.

Take your apologist bullshit somewhere else.

[rug]

13. What do you think happens in a marriage?

Take your axe-grinding bullshit somewhere else. When you do, make sure it's accurate.

[Goblinmonger]

14. yes.

In a marriage, there is sex. That would be the assumption. They want to get married. They are being fired because they are gay and getting married (actually they are in a civil union so married). But let's pretend this is just about sex out of wedlock, because I hope everyone reading this realizes the horrible position of the RCC (and you, apparently) that you can be gay as long as you never ever have sex.

[rug]

15. The only one pretending in this thread is you.

[Goblinmonger]

16. Aaaaaand we're done

You certainly are not going to discuss the horrible stance of the RCC on gay marriage. Everyone reading this knows all they need to about the view of your church.

[rug]

17. You were done after one post.

You just didn't realize it.

[cleanhippie]

27. If one chooses to see it that way, sure.

Doing so seems to ignore te obvious though.

[rug]

29. One does not choose reality.

Hasn't anyone ever told you that?

[cleanhippie]

31. By ignoring the obvious, you are choosing your own reality.

Believing that the supernatural is real, such as women being impregnated by gods, men being resurrected from the dead, etc. is also choosing your own reality.


Perhaps you should take your own advice.

[rug]

32. I didn't know the OP was about the Annunciation and Easter.

I suppose you can make your own reality any way you like.

[cleanhippie]

33. You changed the subject and implied I chose my own reality.

I showed that you were just projecting again.

Have a nice day.

[rug]

34. Oh, did you?

OK, if you say so.

Have a good night.

[Goblinmonger]

7. Dude, all you had to do was read the first couple sentences.

Gay teacher being fired:

Michael Griffin says it was no secret that he is gay at the suburban Philadelphia Catholic high school where he taught for more than a decade.

Harlot being fired:

Sean Houlihan and Natalie Ferland told the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune they were both terminated from Lawrence Catholic Academy just before Thanksgiving for violating their contracts.

But, hey, thanks for showing us another example of the RCC being fuckwads.

[rug]

9. I did.

But, hey, thanks for showing us another example of cool snark.

[Goblinmonger]

10. If you did

then how could you possibly think this was the same instance and tell trotsky to change his comment?

[rug]

11. Dude, all you had to do was read post 8.

The only ones confused are you and Trotsky.

[edhopper]

19. And since they don't recognize gay marriage

gay people ALWAYS have sex outside of marriage. Nice catch 22.

[rug]

20. They don't recognize sacramental gay marriage. Or nonsacramental straight marriage.

It really would be helpful if people understood precisely what it is they are attacking.

[Goblinmonger]

21. So, if this were a Hindi couple

and they weren't married in any Christian church, they would be fired for having sex outside of a sacramental marriage?

[rug]

22. I thought you were done.

But the answer under the employment contract at issue is no. A Hindu couple teaching in a Catholic school is not expected to follow Catholic doctrine.

[Goblinmonger]

23. So you are saying if it were a gay Hindu couple

that got married in the state that they would be allowed to teach?

[rug]

24. That's a much better question.

If it was legal in that state, I don't think they could be fired without breaking the law.

[Goblinmonger]

25. So

If gay marriage is legal in that state (which it is), why can they fire them?

[rug]

30. The state is Pennsylvania where it remains illegal.

They were going across the Delaware to New Jersey to get married.

[Act_of_Reparation]

18. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Just kidding. I'm totally not.

[hrmjustin]

26. That Stinks!