Catholic high school in Montana fired an unmarried teacher when she became pregnant

reply to post by Grimpachi


Well, it seems that Evenson DOES have a discrimination case, and is suing.

Religious organizations are permitted to require employees to sign a religious contract, but they must enforce these contracts equally for men and women. In a recent legal analysis, Lauren E. Fisher, a professor of law at Washington and Lee University, pointed out that this is inherently impossible. "The majority of sins do not present themselves with hairy palms, growing noses, crossed eyes, or anything else that would make one's sins obvious—except for the one instance in which there is glaring evidence of moral transgression: pregnancy outside of marriage," Fischer wrote.

Evenson has hired an attorney, Brian Butler, who says she will file a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Here are the cases of 10 other teachers who say they were fired for becoming pregnant.

Here's a similar case of blaring hypocrisy and discrimination very close to where I live!

San Diego Christian College in El Cajon, California, February 2013
Teri James said she was fired from her position as a financial-aid specialist after becoming pregnant with her fiancé's child, in violation of a community covenant forbidding "sexually immoral behavior" she had signed while an employee. In a twist of the knife, James said that after she was fired, college officials offered a job to someone else they knew had violated the terms of the morality agreement—her husband.

www.motherjones.com...

Here's an online comment from a concerned Catholic:

Also, from a pro-life point of view, the Butte Central made the wrong decision by putting a woman with an unplanned pregnancy in a situation where she could be tempted to have an abortion. I have no idea of this teacher's own views or willingness to consider an abortion, but the school set an unfortunate precedent, as other women in similar situations will be tempted to have an abortion after hearing about this case.

Read more: www.nydailynews.com...

EDIT: Here's another one:

7. St. Rose of Lima in Queens, New York, October 2005
Michelle McCusker, a 26-year-old preschool teacher, was fired from the Catholic school for becoming pregnant outside wedlock. McCusker said that she was "devastated" because "this was my first teaching position and I was excited and looking forward to the school year with my young students." In this case, an anti-abortion group sided with McCusker and argued that her school's policy encouraged female employees to seek abortions.

In 2006, the EEOC ruled that the school had engaged in illegal pregnancy discrimination.

reply to post by windword


Yeah the one where they turn around and offer the job to her now husband is pretty clear.

The catholic faith is weird to me because of the hypocrisy. I have lived in several predominantly catholic countries, and in every one of them either prostitution was legal or accepted and spousal cheating was actually expected. Enforcement of their rules is almost always arbitrary. Maybe that is the result of a system of confessional get out of jail with some hail mary's free. Sucks for women in that system though.

This makes me think of the case of the nun who recently gave birth. I wonder what happened to her.

reply to post by Grimpachi


Yep! I hate religious bullies!

Taking away the ability of a soon to be single mother to support herself and her health insurance is not what Jesus taught.

reply to post by windword


I didn't expect there to be a law suit in this case because of the contract. I just thought that it is real S%$ty of them to do so on moral high ground reasons while the Pope himself s saying there are bigger things to worry about. I do not buy into to the whole argument that she is of bad example in fact I think she is pretty brave. Did she even say it was consentual sex? I don't know but it shouldn't be any ones business but just imagine the predicament IF.

What if it comes out that the father is another employee of the school? I wonder if any males have ever ben fired for premarital sex the likely hood of single male teachers being virgins in this era...well you probably have lotto odds. Well this sets a fine example to the students, and I doubt they will make the same mistake as her. I am not talking about sex I am talking about being responsible to where they would never get caught because in the real world abstinence is BS I don't care how much hellfire you threaten them with. The people that think otherwise simply are not seeing reality.

There has been quite a few Catholic officials in the past few years who have gone on record saying the Church and its stances need to change if people want it to remain prevalent in the future. Attendance is down for a reason. Actually what I think was said is if things don't change it will die out because younger generations are not being recruited. Take a look at the UK in another 10 to 15 years the same will happen in the US with the church at this rate. They need to look inwards and ask themselves what really matters and why. They could become a real force for good but not with 18th century thinking.

Oh well... its not like what the church does affects me. I guess the catholic faith is all about rules, laws, and regulations. I will have to remember that if I debate in the hobby lobby thread again.

Grimpachi
But a beloved Catholic teacher in Montana was just fired simply for becoming pregnant.

When teachers agree to work in a Catholic school, they agree to the 'morals clause'. People send their kids to Catholic school to be taught what the Church teaches and the teachers are expected to behave in a certain manner. Premarital sex and pregnancy is not the example that the teachers are supposed to be setting. The teacher knew the rules when she signed up to teach there. So, like it or not, the action is appropriate.

If a teacher in a Muslims school agreed to the rules, but showed up with a bottle of whiskey .. that teacher should be fired. If a teacher in a Jewish school showed up with a lunch bag full of bacon sandwiches ... that teacher should be fired. Ditto this single pregnant teacher in the Catholic school. they all agree to the rules ahead of time. they know what will happen if they don't set the example that is expected of them.

CranialSponge
I wonder how they go about catching and firing the male teachers who have sex outside of marriage...?

The 8th grade teacher at our daughters school was caught in a public display of affection with his boyfriend at a shopping mall. He was promptly fired. These teachers in religious schools know the rules. If they break them, they are out of a job. Period. The schools aren't to blame. The teachers are. And there are plenty of teachers out looking for a job who cant take over the job and who will be willing to fulfill the 'morals clause' part of the contract that the religious schools have.

windword
Well, it seems that Evenson DOES have a discrimination case, and is suing.

No .. she THINKS she has one. She doesn't. She broke the contract. It's just that simple.

windword
Taking away the ability of a soon to be single mother to support herself and her health insurance is not what Jesus taught.

1 - No one is 'taking away her ability to support herself' .... she threw it away herself.
2 - She can still support herself just fine. She's a teacher and she can go get a job in a public school somewhere. You know ... public schools that celebrate premarital sex and irresponsibility ...

reply to post by Grimpachi







Lol!! ..... Its NOT the sinning . . .

Its the being found out

reply to post by Grimpachi

What if it comes out that the father is another employee of the school? I wonder if any males have ever ben fired for premarital sex the likely hood of single male teachers being virgins in this era

You apparently missed it, but I gave you an example of one on the previous page of this thread. Yes, if it is found that they violated the terms of their contract, they will be terminated. It's obviously more difficult to prove for the gender which does not get pregnant, but it does happen.

Tho i hate religious school and their brainwashing.

If she signed a contract that states she cant get pregnant before getting married. I see no problem with her getting kicked out.


Do they have other laws against like having a cloth made out of 2 different materials?

reply to post by windword


Perhaps it would have been more prudent to cloister her in a Nunnery that takes in 'wanton women'....that'd teach her!

Yikes. Stories like these really do stir the pot. Wonder what the Pope will say about it? If anything - does he 'micromanage' like that? I doubt it, but with the 'hierarchy' of the RCC supposedly 'working as intended' - it would go to a higher-up, like a Bishop or something, right?

OMG, SHE'S HUMAN!!! Keep her away from our Catholic Schoolgirls! (I've personally known several who have gotten pregnant - and it's ridiculous when people think they are pure as the driven snow - LOL!!!)

reply to post by wildtimes

Yikes. Stories like these really do stir the pot. Wonder what the Pope will say about it? If anything - does he 'micromanage' like that? I doubt it, but with the 'hierarchy' of the RCC supposedly 'working as intended' - it would go to a higher-up, like a Bishop or something, right?

Why would the Pope say anything about it? Why would it go before the diocese's Bishop?

She intentionally violated the terms of her contract and was terminated for it. That happens every single day in the secular workplace, why is it such an outrage when it happens in a Catholic school?

Claiming that the church should ignore her violation of that contract because she didn't have an abortion is along the lines of being against rape and murder, and advocating releasing all rapists who didn't murder their victims, because they didn't do the worst of the two crimes.

reply to post by adjensen

Why would the Pope say anything about it? Why would it go before the diocese's Bishop?

Why would the Pope say that atheists are redeemed, just like everyone else?

It's the principle of the thing. Was she a good teacher? Did the kids learn from her? Was she well-liked?

The Pope/Bishop could make changes to the policy; firing this woman does....what, again??

reply to post by FlyersFan

Premarital sex and pregnancy is not the example that the teachers are supposed to be setting.

Is pregnancy a separate crime, above and beyond the "sex" part?

No .. she THINKS she has one. She doesn't. She broke the contract. It's just that simple.

So does her lawyer, apparently. Anyway, in my mind, that's not the issue here. The issue is the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church. In their pro-life dogma, and rabid morality obsession, they're setting a precedent that tells young girls that if they get pregnant that they would be better off getting an abortion, than to go through the judgmental, punishing scrutiny and alienation of their church.

2 - She can still support herself just fine. She's a teacher and she can go get a job in a public school somewhere.

It will take a "saint" to hire her while she's pregnant. And, then there's going to be "maternity leave" that this "saint" will have to pay for as well.

Nope. More likely, this women will have to go on welfare until her child is old enough for her to go back to work.

I hope that her family and friends are supportive.

reply to post by wildtimes

Why would the Pope say that atheists are redeemed, just like everyone else?

That isn't what the Pope said.

It's the principle of the thing. Was she a good teacher? Did the kids learn from her? Was she well-liked?

Let's say that there is a teacher at a school. Good teacher, well liked. Unfortunately, they're also a meth dealer. Should the school overlook the drug use, because they're a good teacher and well liked?

The Pope/Bishop could make changes to the policy; firing this woman does....what, again??

It says that the church teaches that sex outside of marriage is not acceptable. Some people send their kids to Catholic school because they believe in the teaching of the church and want their kids to get that sort of message, as opposed to the public school system that teaches the complete opposite.

reply to post by adjensen


Yes, it IS what the Pope said.
Here's a story (one of many about it): I'd post the image but I'm borrowing my husband's computer because mine is in surgery for 'The Black Screen of Death'

POPE FRANCIS: ALL GO TO HEAVEN, EVEN ATHEISTS

Oh, yes he did. In perhaps one of the most blatant and blasphemous statements in history (story below), Pope Francis has declared that everyone – including atheists – are redeemed through Jesus. Did Jesus die for the sins of the world? Indeed He did. But if you read carefully, the works-righteousness becomes apparent for salvation; that what saves you isn’t believing and trusting in Christ alone for His atonement for our sins; it’s your good works. Your deeds. Why is he saying these things? Perhaps it’s because he wants world peace. And unity. One-ness.

I'm sorry - did I miss something where that was denied/corrected? It's given as a translated quote.

(Go to the link for the image I would have included in this post).

This ex is from NPR:

In a passage inspired by the Gospel of Mark, Pope Francis said:

"The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! 'Father, the atheists?' Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class. We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all. And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: We need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. 'But I don't believe, Father, I am an atheist!' But do good: We will meet one another there."

By the time the Vatican tried to spin it into something else, it was too late.

A Vatican spokesman quickly intervened. Father Thomas Rosica said "people who know the Catholic Church cannot be saved if they refuse to enter or remain in her."

Reaching Out

The Vatican spin tried to dampen the media hype. Nevertheless, the remark was another example of this pope reaching out to an audience that goes well beyond the church.

The pope previously said atheists can be "precious allies" in the building of a peaceful coexistence between peoples and in the careful protection of creation.

This is the style of a parish priest who wants dialogue with his flock and beyond.

Although I'm going off-topic here. But clearly Jesus hung out with the 'undesirables', actually preferred them to the 'priests' - will you dispute that also? Mary Mag was a prostitute - Jesus loved her. Do you think Jesus would reject this young woman, who was teaching others? Doing "good"?

That's just sad. Contract, schmontract. Have a heart, people - she's human, she succumbed to lust, she became pregnant. End of story. Happens all over the world, millions of times a day. Contraception has been part of written history since forever.

This is just backward thinking.
IMO.

(In other news: Stay warm and safe, d!)

ETA link to NPR story.

reply to post by adjensen

Let's say that there is a teacher at a school. Good teacher, well liked. Unfortunately, they're also a meth dealer. Should the school overlook the drug use, because they're a good teacher and well liked?

Oh, PLEASE. *facepalm*

Is this woman peddling sperm to the sweet, innocent girls? Is she bringing in donated sperm and providing the instructions to them?

That's a ridiculous attempt to create a 'parallel'.

It says that the church teaches that sex outside of marriage is not acceptable. Some people send their kids to Catholic school because they believe in the teaching of the church and want their kids to get that sort of message, as opposed to the public school system that teaches the complete opposite.

What??!!!

No - public schools do NOT "teach the complete opposite" which would be "Go! Class dismissed! Have sex! Make babies before your parents get home from their jobs!! Do it, do it! Prize for the first girl in class to get a positive test...We need more babies so there are more titheTAXpayers to shore up this sinking ship!!"

reply to post by wildtimes

I'm sorry - did I miss something where that was denied/corrected? It's given as a translated quote.

Yes, by citing an anti-Catholic site, you don't realize the leap that that person is making. Did Jesus die for everyone? Yes. Apart from Calvinists, that is a fairly universal Christian belief. Will everyone be saved? No. That is a universal Christian claim. So, did the Pope say "everyone goes to heaven, even atheists?" Absolutely not. They can be saved, through Christ, but they must accept him.

The funny thing is that, when you put that quote back into the context of his speech, he wasn't even talking about heaven.

Was Pope Francis Even Talking About Heaven?

If so, you wouldn't know it from the transcript of what he said.

Let's back up a bit. Remember, Pope Francis was just talking about the duty to do good:

"And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace."

So if everyone does good, we have a path toward peace. That's the goal he's discussing.

"If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good.

Note the parallelism between the phrases. Pope Francis is talking about a path "toward peace" and wants us to "meet there" by doing our part and doing good so that we build "that culture of encounter" and "meet one another doing good."

He's not talking about heaven at all.

He's talking about earth. (Source)

wildtimes
Why would the Pope say that atheists are redeemed, just like everyone else?

Because that's Catholic teaching. Everyone is redeemed. It's just a matter of they accept redemption or not. So the pope saying that was in line with Catholic teaching and laws. And the firing of this woman was in line with Catholic teaching and laws.

It's the principle of the thing. Was she a good teacher? Did the kids learn from her? Was she well-liked?

THe principle of the thing ... okay .... she got hired with an understanding that she had to fulfill a morals clause. She failed. And in a Catholic school, part of 'being a good teacher' is to fulfill the morals clause. She knew this. She got herself fired. The school did nothing wrong.

Sorry.

reply to post by FlyersFan

So the pope saying that was in line with Catholic teaching and laws. And the firing of this woman was in line with Catholic teaching and laws.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said: Woe to you lawyers also, because you load men with burdens which they cannot bear, and you yourselves touch not the packs with one of your fingers.