After 19 years with Bishop Watterson High School Carla Hale, a lesbian phys-ed teacher, was fired because of her sexuality.
The private life of former Bishop Watterson High School educator Carla Hale became public when her female partner was listed as a surviving family member in her mother’s obituary.
Soon after the article was published, a parent anonymously notified the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus about Hale’s sexuality.
The outraged parent wrote:
"I was shocked by what I saw. It had her teacher's name and that of her 'spouse' listed. It was two females. How can the Diocese of Columbus allow this?"
Hale was pink-slipped a week later. Her attorney filed a grievance and Hale met with school Principal Marian Hutson as the first step in that process.
The reason she was given for being fired, in the initial termination letter, was:
"Your written spousal relationship violates the moral laws of the Catholic Church."
Um, the rampant pedophilia within the priesthood violates moral laws, and yet pedophile priests have been shuffled around parishes for decades. Had she been messing around with young girls I would say fire her ass and jail her, but that's not the case.
After Hales meeting with Hutson, and in response to the grievance, Hutson insisted the firing had nothing to do with her being gay, but rather her "spousal situation."
The Diocese also responded to criticism for the firing:
The Catholic Diocese of Columbus sent the following statement to ABC 6/FOX 28 regarding Hale's firing: "Personnel matters remain confidential by policy of the Diocese of Columbus, and thus cannot be discussed in specific terms by diocesan staff, even cases that are working their way through grievance procedures and/or have gained significant publicity. "However, what can be said in general terms is that all Catholic school personnel at the outset of their employment agree that they will abide by the rules, regulations, and policies of the Catholic Diocese, including respecting the moral values advanced by the teachings of Christ. "The Catholic Church respects the fundamental dignity of all persons, but also must insist that those in its employ respect the tenets of the Church. Personnel who choose to publicly espouse relationships or principles that are contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church cannot, ultimately, remain in the employ of the Church."
If this is the case, then they do have a right to fire someone who does not abide by their tenets. However, it's still hypocrisy.
Hale has had overwhelming support from the community and students, and a petition was created on Change.org asking for her to be reinstated:
“Reinstate faculty member Carla Hale and apologize for discriminating against her on the basis of sexuality.”
“She was a teacher who cared for her students and treated each one with respect. The diocese, however, did not reciprocate that respect in its treatment of her.”
Other sources: ABC22NOW, ABC6
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