Gay Teacher Fired From Catholic School Shortly After Marriage Ceremony

[edhopper]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/01/gay-teacher-fired-catholic-school_n_3690516.html


Religion gets the right to be bigoted.

"The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that religious schools, protected by the First Amendment, have the right to hire and fire teachers based on whether or not their actions are in line with religious doctrine.

Federal legislation prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religion, sex, nation of origin, age and any disability -- it does not ban discrimination based on gender identify or sexual orientation. Thus, in 33 states that currently don't have state bans, people can be fired, denied a promotion or harassed, merely for being LGBT."


But at least they aren't judging him.

[Coyotl]

1. This will change if they sue and the courts have to revisit the issue.

Because the laws of the land have changed.

[edhopper]

2. The religious exemption

was ruled by SCOTUS in 2011, which is dominated by conservative Catholics.
Unless there is a change in the Court, this will remain the law of the land.
And I have little hope that Congress (who can't even ensure the voting rights of minorities) will give LGBTs any protection.

[trotsky]

5. But as you noted, at least we can rejoice...

that homosexuals aren't being judged as they are fired and shunned.

The pope said so!

Oh wait a minute... he DID add that little caveat that gays won't be judged "if they are seeking the lord in good faith." I.e., "as long as they aren't doing gay things, like loving someone of the same sex." Then apparently you can judge away...

[edhopper]

7. "I'm not judgin you Mr. Bencomo.

I am just saying that you and that sinful man you have entered an unholy union with have no place being near this children, you disgusting reprobate. But that's not a judgement, just religious freedom."

[cbayer]

3. Glad to see he has so much support from the community and his students.

The law that protects the school should be overturned and I hope he pursues a vigorous legal challenge.

[edhopper]

4. To bad the Catholic Church's

usual behavior is to ignore what the community wishes and stand firm.

The law that protects the school has zero chance of being overturned, cause religious freedom blah, blah, blah...

[cbayer]

6. I don't think you can reach that conclusion yet. Let's see what happens.

You could be right, but you also could be wrong.

[edhopper]

8. The SCOTUS

Approved this in 2011 and there is absolutely no effort from any politician anywhere to change the law.
How will it be changed. Unless you are talking decades, then maybe.

[cbayer]

9. Anti-discrimination legislation can be implemented on both a state and national level.

Squeaky wheels get greased and this one is very squeaky right now.

Have you called your elected officials? Sent any letters?

It's so much easier to just say it can't be done.

[edhopper]

12. I don't think here in the

Liberal State of New York they will take on the Catholic Church.

So I think that the thought all of the State Houses that are now controlled by Repug mouth breathers passing anti Gay discrimination laws is close to zero.

They are still arresting Gay men in Louisiana, Mississippi and Virginia for sodomy, even though those laws are now unconstitutional.
The next Gov of Virginia might be an anti Gay bigot.

33 States have laws that allow dismissal based on sexual orientation.

And the only action I see being taking on the state level is the re-institution of Jim Crow voting laws.



This is no different than the birth control insurance controversy, Religion gets a pass from acting civilized.



And yes I did those things you mentioned for Gay marriage in my state.

[cbayer]

13. Well, let's just throw our hands up in the air and give up then!

This is why I talk of coalitions and partnering. Things can change and are more likely to we all work together. Progressive/liberal religious people and non-religious people need to put up a united front.

There are some really interesting things happening in N. Carolina. They can be beaten back.

This story is getting a lot of publicity and that's good. It should embarrass the daylights out of them for doing this.

So I'm going to wait and see what the eventual outcome is and remain optimistic.

[edhopper]

14. I am just in a very pesimistic frame of mind

right now.

It shows in my posts.

[cbayer]

15. I hear that edhopper. I hear that.

Happens to all of us.

[rug]

10. You can sign the petuition here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/st-lucy-s-priory-high-school-give-ken-bencomo-his-job-back

Unless you think it's a waste of time.

[edhopper]

11. A petition to ask the Catholic Church

to change it's ideology? Yes a waste of time.

You know what would change this, if every parent at that school threatened to take out their child if he wasn't rehired.