There’s a story bubbling to the surface right now that you’ll probably be hearing about from other news sources.
Here’s what we know so far – A fifth-grade teacher who’s been teaching at a Catholic elementary school for 11 years is not being asked to return next Fall.
Why?
According to a newspaper:
In a letter sent to St. Joseph’s staff and families, Trish Cameron said she was told June 1 she would not be offered a contract for the following school year because of her response to a question on a self-evaluation.
The question concerned whether she supported the Catholic Church’s teachings, she wrote in the letter.
Her response, as quoted in her letter, reads: “I do not agree w/ all Church teachings on a personal level but I do not bring my own opinions into our religion classes. We tend to focus on respect and love for one another and living out our call as servants whenever a ‘political’ topic crops (which it rarely, if ever, does).”
After a later discussion with school administration, Cameron said in the letter that she told them she did not agree with the church’s stance against gay marriage. Because of her dissent, she was asked to write a brief letter of resignation.
Families and staff also received a letter signed by Principal Toby Bierl and Superintendent and church Monsignor Mike Foltz. That letter stated that because of “an unfortunate circumstance” and the school’s “fiduciary responsibility” as a “Catholic-Christian school,” Cameron was asked to resign.
So if the media’s looking for the next story where they can paint the Catholic Church as bullying women, this might just fit the bill. So when the media’s done with the whole Vatican vs. the poor widdle nuns meme or the bishops’ war on women story, maybe they could jump right into the fired teacher story.
The teacher seems like a good person and so far she’s refused to say much more than, “In my honest to goodness heart, I want the interest in this story to build bridges for all the right reasons, not to tear things down. I feel like perhaps there is a wave of interest that may need to come and go before I speak about this.”
Certainly we don’t know the whole story here but I think it’s worth noting that there’s no mention of a lawsuit being filed. Hey, in 21st century America that’s worth noting.
But what’s also worth noting is that because of a recent Supreme Court case Hosanna vs. Tabor, this is a slam dunk. The school has the absolute right to act in this way. But be prepared for the media to be outraged that a Catholic school acted…well…Catholic.
June 13, 2012 at 2:33 am
So, fired for being honest on a self assessment about treating people equally. But, I must give Matt his due credit for bringing this up. Intelectually honest, well done.
Rover.
June 13, 2012 at 3:48 am
Fired for being honest that she could not fulfill the job description of a teacher in a Catholic school, which is to both teach and defend Catholic doctrine and personally uphold Catholic faith with the witness of one's life. In this day and age, Catholic schools especially need teachers who will be unabashed defenders of Church teaching in its entirety and vigorous witnesses to its truth with their lives. There's nothing virtuous about pretending that disordered, unnatural relationships are equal to marriage between a man and a woman.
June 13, 2012 at 4:41 am
and why is this even newsworthy? who reported it to the newspaper?
June 13, 2012 at 5:20 am
a lot of people think that "being honest" gives them a pass. When the vice Principal says "whoever did this better come to my office and admit it right away", the student generally thinks that means he or she won't get punished, but of course it doesn't. As to the content, Anonymous sums it up well.
June 13, 2012 at 11:58 am
“I do not agree w/ all Church teachings on a personal level but I do not bring my own opinions into our religion classes. We tend to focus on respect and love for one another and living out our call as servants whenever a ‘political’ topic crops (which it rarely, if ever, does).”
…The Magisterium of Me!
If she doesn't agree with the Church, then she cannot honestly teach in a Catholic School. If she's allowed to, why can't a Muslim, pagan, or atheist teach? I'm sure a Muslim believes in God, which is one of the beliefs of our faith, but does being "lukewarm" on other tenets qualify her?
See Rev 3:16 for the answer.
If you wish to be Catholic, you must be "all in" as they say…
June 13, 2012 at 1:56 pm
If she is otherwise a good teacher, the school should keep her and advise her not to contradict Church teaching in the classroom. Every Sunday there are hundreds of gay music directors doing masses all across the country. Why do we have to fire this woman?
June 13, 2012 at 2:34 pm
This is a tough one, because one would think that if the teacher could keep her opinions out of the classroom, it should be fine. From personal experience, though, I can tell you that when classroom discussions get heated and deep (and the kids ought to be allowed to do this IMO!) things have a way of coming out. I was on the other side not too long ago when an official representative of the diocese let slip that he doesn't think divorced and remarried Catholics should be barred from Communion until things are regularized. And this was in a class about Cathlic moral teaching. That's a big oops! And for me it makes me suspicious of everything else taught by that person.
June 13, 2012 at 2:38 pm
I appreciate that this teacher hasn't been all over TV with Gloria Allred about this. She's really being classy about it and I appreciate her honesty. I don't believe she should be teaching religion classes if she doesn't agree with Church teaching.
June 13, 2012 at 2:39 pm
I don't like the idea that kids this age are distracted and supposed to focus on loving everybody when "political" topics come up. These are moral issues, and the kids deserve the opportunity to chew on them, not dodge them and remain unprepared. As a substitute teacher, I've had to handle some real hot potatoes (Partial birth abortion? What's that?) and I consider it my duty to answer as the Church would, and then let the pastor and regular teacher know what came up. Teaching is tough, and I can't imagine having to "fake it" on the hard questions.
June 13, 2012 at 7:25 pm
This is a tough situation, but I think it is also a clear one, especially if she is the person primarily responsible for teaching the Faith in her classroom (not that say a math teacher shouldn't still teach the Faith). I have taught in Catholic parishes and schools for over a decade and I've never seen a situation where one's "personal views" were able to be completely kept "out of the classroom". At best, someone will gloss-over and water-down as it sounds as if this teacher has done, and at worst there will be heretical indoctrination.
This was the right move, and I'm glad to hear it sounds like she's handling it with class and respect.
June 13, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Has anyone ever heard of any teacher being fired from a Catholic school over a difference of opinion on a Church teaching that didn't involve sex? Is that the only doctrinal difference that gets one fired from a Catholic school?
June 13, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Has anyone ever heard of any teacher being fired from a Catholic school over a difference of opinion on a Church teaching that didn't involve sex? Is that the only doctrinal difference that gets one fired from a Catholic school?
June 29, 2012 at 8:05 pm
This strikes me as inquisitorial. It seems that these teachers were required to sign a "doctrinal purity pledge". I think this woman ought to be able to believe whatever she likes as long as she teaches authentic Catholic doctrine in the classroom and doesn't contradict it by how she lives her life. No scandal, no problem.