Catholic High School Fires Lesbian Safety Officer

[matcom]

<snip>

A gay-rights advocacy organization is denouncing the firing of a campus safety officer at Marian High School, saying she was dismissed because she publicized that she's a lesbian.

"It's a horrible lesson to the young women at that school," said Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation in Detroit.

The officer, Charlene Genther, 55, was in her sixth year at the Catholic, college-preparatory school for girls. A former Detroit police officer, she has a daughter who graduated from the Bloomfield Township school in 2001.

Her firing has prompted Marian alumnae to action. A petition at www.petitionspot.com/petitions/genther that seeks an apology for Genther and the gay and lesbian community had gathered 136 signatures by Wednesday.

Genther said Wednesday that she has been in a committed relationship for 28 years and that it was no surprise to anyone at the school that she is a lesbian. She and her partner often attended school events, chaperoned dances and went to parent-teacher conferences.

But last week, when she began publicizing her autobiography, "Badge 3483: A True Story," which addresses the relationship, she was fired.

Genther said Sister Lenore Pochelski, the school's president, gave her the news Friday, two hours after a local newspaper reporter interviewed her about the book. She said Pochelski said she wouldn't have gotten fired if she hadn't gone public with the book.

"She was very clear," Genther said. "She said it was because my lifestyle does not coincide with the teachings of the Catholic Church. I personally felt she was having a hard time firing me. ...

"But she was firm that she had to go along with the teachings of the Catholic Church."

Pochelski confirmed that Genther was terminated, but said she would not comment on her termination out of respect for personnel and confidentiality issues.

"She was a great employee," Pochelski said. "We're grateful for her generous service."

The Rev. Harry Cook, pastor of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Clawson, said Genther, a friend and a parishioner, was an asset to the school.

"People are in an uproar," Cook said.

And Genther is devastated. She said she left the school in tears Friday.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061019/NEWS03/610190423/1005/NEWS

[peekaloo]

1. Who better than a lesbian to be the Lesbian Safety Officer?

:dunce:

[matcom]

2. .....

:rofl:

[AngryAmish]

7. gotta look out for the petite but ornery lesbians

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

27. As a petite, but ornery, lesbian, I have to say that is good advice.

:thumbsup:

[Momgonepostal]

19. That's what I thought, too!...

How progressive of that school to have a lesbian safety department. Gotta keep the lesbians safe!

LOL

[youthere]

42. There's a lot of reckless, careless lesbians out there...

taking needless risks.Thank goodness someone is looking out for lesbian safety.


:crazy:

[Jamastiene]

45. I guess they want a straight Lesbian Safety Officer.

:spray: :rofl:

[Chan790]

3. I'm going to get hammered for this...

but I don't disagree with this at all.

It's a catholic HS, they have an absolute-right to uphold their values in their faculty and student body. (Even if those values are wrong and f%%ked-up.) It's the foundational principle of the school. The reason people send their kids to schools which enforce the value code they want their kids educated within. People send their kids to catholic school to put them in a environment where they will be taught moral principles in-line with catholic thought. If I wanted to start a school founded on principles of liberal thought, you better believe I'd fire anybody I found out was a Republican...or publicized their conservatism.

This differs from the case with the Boy Scouts only because the Boy Scouts receive governmental funding and use of public space. If they wanted to not use public space and not get public funds, I'd say the BSA can do whatever the *bleep bleeping bleeeeeeeep* they want. It's the same as the Nazis in Skokie, Ill. The school has the right to assemble under whatever value they want, even if that value is disgusting. (I don't agree with the value, but with their right to hold that value.)

Having a mother who is on the board of trustees of a catholic HS, I can tell you this sort of thing happens more often than you know about...and that schools as much as possible, try to look the other way. If you're flagrant and make it impossible for them to deny they knew, they will fire you. If they didn't, the Archbishop would fire them. If he didn't, he'd get defrocked. If you don't try to make waves, nobody cares. I know because my brother's art teacher, the sister of one of my best friends from HS, was fired by the B of T (which my mom is on) because she refused to stop bringing her S.O. to school functions (which would have been fine if she wasn't actively committed to being blatant) where they held hands and cuddled during a drama performance...attended by the bishop. Once the board reached the point where they could not deny they knew, they fired her. I know my mother knew she was a lesbian when they hired her, so did everybody else. Nobody cared until she felt she needed to make it an issue.

And they were right to fire her. Even if I disagree with the principle, she agreed to work in a system which upholds that principle. If I were a parent there, I'd be pissed if they didn't fire her, as it shows they are not resolute on the values they agreed to educate under...if they'd let that slide, what else slides? She's not being fired for being a lesbian, she's being fired for advocating toward values contrary to the one of the school after she agreed not to by working there.

[baldguy]

4. So, everyone employed by a Catholic school has to be Catholic?

One's religious beliefs usually has nothing to do with one's ability to do a job.

[Chan790]

No, merely not publicly or openly

engage in practices or promote beliefs contrary to catholic teachings and values. Admittedly, they prefer to hire catholics because it reduces these sorts of incidents...but there is no requirement.

Edit: Wanted to add that I'm fairly certain that my HS english teacher is a Wiccan. Nobody cares because she's not being public about it or writing a book.

I'm not teaching English there (I was offered a faculty position) because frankly, I am very slowly trying to write a book and it's filthy (it's narrative non-fic about how being in college very close to the Pentagon on/after 9/11 when DC was basically locked down for security concerns changed my friends and I. One of my friends, Declan, basically went on a 5-week satyrisis bender because it was the only time he wasn't scared out of his mind.) and I don't feel like being fired for writing smut.

[LostinVA]

22. Oftentimes, yes

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. Yes, you WILL be hammered for this, and rightly so.

[Jamastiene]

47. Good job.

A sledgehammer. All festive for Halloween no less. :thumbsup:

[XemaSab]

11. It's a private business argument, methinks

Should a bar owner be able to allow smoking?

Should an airline be allowed to hire only hot young women as stewardesses?

Should a sushi restaurant be allowed to only hire Japanese sushi chefs?

Should a store be allowed to sell Nazi stuff?

Should a store be allowed to sell bongs?

Where do you draw the lines on what a private business is allowed to do?

[Chan790]

12. Hmm...

interesting especially since the law seems to be arbitrary and somewhat-hypocritical on the question.

[kay1864]

13. At least one of those is already allowed

An airline is legally allowed to hire only hot young women as flight attendants, as long as they hire men as well (hot or not). Similarly, Hooters Restaurants is legally allowed to hire only hot young women as waitresses.

In other words, it's legal to discriminate on the basis of looks or weight, as long as you don't discriminate against a select class like gender, race, religion, etc.

Now if the school above is in a state with laws about discrimination based on sexual orientation, the fired officer might have a case, but otherwise what they did was legal. Reprehensible and disgusting, but hey, that's the Catholic Church for you.

[AngryAmish]

24. Actually airlines are not allowed to only hire the young and the hot

There was a famous case about this (may even been the supreme court). Anyway they said the essential function of a flight attendant was safety and order in the cabin and relying on youngness and hotness was age and sex discrimination.

The argument of Hooters is that transfer of food and drink is incidental to the ogling. Abercrombie and Fitch are also using that defense.

Actresses, strippers etc were always exempted.

[kay1864]

25. Are you sure that was a court case?

I thought it was just flight attendant unions bringing pressure on the airlines.

[LostinVA]

31. Court case

They had to change the age, height, and weight restrictions.

[XemaSab]

51. I don't agree with all the examples given above

I am just saying that it seems like a similar case.

[underpants]

14. Why does/did she publicly tell everyone about her private life?

I don't get it. I don't tell people that I work with or that I meet randomly secrets or information about myself!! That is what DU is for.

[LostinVA]

23. You never talk about your wife or family?

How is who you are and those you love a random secret?

[ScreamingMeemie]

34. To be fair, even though I disagree with the thread this is in, MrG never

talks about me or the kids. When we got married 10 years ago, 3/4 of the people he worked with were stunned to learn he had a girlfriend. :D How crazy is that? I myself, as you well know, can't keep my mouth shut about my loved ones. :hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

29. It's amazing how straight people think sexual orientation is all about

someone's private life. Very simple aspects of your life, not things that people consider their private lives, are tied into your sexual orientation. You've probably never had to play the pronoun game, but it's a sucky game to play, and it involves things that people would normally not consider their private life, rather just intrinsic parts of their lives.

[LostinVA]

32. I don't play that game anymore, but I used to

And, I was fired once when I slipped and used the "wrong" pronoun.

People have no idea how exhausting, scary, and soul-sucking it is.

This post is disappointing and disheartening to me. Not yours, Haruka, but the one you were answering. I know the poster is a good guy, but this his post shows that even good guys don't get it.

[YankeyMCC]

40. Not this straight person

Back in the late 90's when I was in the Air Force we had to go to Equal Opportunity classes - basically sit in a room for a day discussing anti-discrimination policies of the Air Force with other enlisted and officers.

We got around to the question of homosexuals in the military. The facilitator asked "Does the Military discriminate against homosexuals?"

Immediately a female Major spoke up with something like "All they have to do is not tell people they are homosexuals." (yeah the wonderful "don't ask/don't tell" policy). "Straight people shouldn't be talking about their sex lives either."

I spoke up with, "It's not about sex it's about being able to be who they are. Don't you ever talk about going to a movie or a picnic or some other activity with your husband or boy friend? A heterosexual officer is free to talk about his or her spouse, in fact it's expected. A homosexual can't talk about the person they're living with. They can't gain the social connections, the important networking connections made possible by bringing his or her spouse to the formal Mess."

Something like that.

She hemmed and hawed and gave me an evil look. I was a Captain...but I was leaving active duty a couple months later so I was braver than I probably would've been otherwise.

So this heterosexual get's that it's not just about the 'private life'...we're not ALL stupid.

[Zhade]

54. For a LOT of straights, gay = sex.

That's the first thing their mind leaps to.

It's not the first thing *I* think of when meeting a heterosexual.

[YankeyMCC]

55. For a lot perhaps

I was just responding to the generalization of "All"

[Book Lover]

30. If you *ever* say the words, "My wife," or "My girlfriend," you are

telling people about the same part of your private life that this woman has to do the pronoun dance around (thanks haruka!)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

59. a random secret would be that she had some kinky fetish

saying you have a wife/gf/husband/bf etc is not a random private secret

[hedgehog]

17. Speaking as a Catholic, I'm wondering what happens when we

women stop catering to the Bishops. I was really sickened by all the concern about what the bishop likes and doesn't like the last time my parish hosted him for Confirmation. If this school doesn't receive funding from the diocese, they're in perfect position to tell the bishop where to take his teachings. It wouldn't be the first time a bunch of uppity nuns got into a fight with a bishop. I'll tell you something else. Our religious ed director wants me to have the kids stand up with a "Good morning, father" should the pastor visit the class. I'm not doing it. I like and respect many priests as individuals, but the days of treating them as my superiors are over for this Catholic!

[Book Lover]

28. Very succinct post, and very true

Women are the backbone of every parish - nuns and laity alike.

What you say about standing up for the pastor reminds me of a pre-V II book of prayers I found after my mother passed on; there was a description of how to prepare the house for the arrival of a priest when he came to administer last rites. There was a suggestion that all household members kneel when the priest entered the house, and to rise as he passed you. Ahem.

[hedgehog]

33. That was based on the assumption that the priest was carrying

a consecrated Host. (Viaticum?) You were kneeling to honor Christ, not the priest. Over the years, too many , both clergy and laity, have forgotten that distinction!

[Book Lover]

39. Now I'll have to look up that passage

I don't think that fact was mentioned, but now I have to go look!

[hedgehog]

52. It probably wouldn't be mentioned.

Carrying the Host was part of the old-fashioned sick call or anointing of the sick. Often in the old days it meant the person was dying. Nowadays, it's often a lay person who brings the host to someone who is housebound.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

18. I went to a small, all-girls Catholic school...

here in SF. We had three teachers -- two lay and one sister -- who were lesbians. Everyone knew about their sexual orientation -- the principle, the students, the parents. There was no big deal made of it, no need to fire anyone, and no one even thought to make the point that the Catholic church was against homosexuality (and this was back in the day when just being gay was enough to send you to hell).

Christianity -- I was taught -- is also supposed to be about compassion, understanding, and forgivness. Sadly, too many forget about that. :(

[Book Lover]

26. Then they should have released her the moment her orientation became

known to the general student body. How does bowing only to the pressure from the diocesan administration, rather than firing her the day the principal found out she is gay, square with upholding the teachings of the Church? It does not. If you don't want a lesbian working in the school, don't hire her!

[LostinVA]

43. I'm betting the Bishop made the Principal fire her

Vow of obedience and all that jazz. The Sister apparently didn't care.

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. I don't know what brand of Christianity they're teaching there, but the

type I always knew about was based on not judging others and treating others the way you yourself wish to be treated. I see nowhere how she is (on school time) advocating values going against the Catholic Church. Keeping children safe is Anti-Catholic Theology? God am I glad I don't go to church anymore.

[Jamastiene]

46. I guess they could hire a priest to do the job and he can

ogle the little boys all day long. That'd be better. Sure. :sarcasm:

[Name removed]

48. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

61. while i hate any form of homophobia, in principle i have to agree with you

religious organizations should have a right to practise their beliefs no matter how much i personally hate their belief system.

liberal catholics who are still supporting the church and its sexism/homophobia are just like gay republicans.

[The Brethren]

6. '"It's a horrible lesson to the young women at that school,"'

so true...they should teach them to lie to themselves and everybody else. of course there can't possibly be lesbian students at that high school.

[Bossy Monkey]

8. Lesbian Safety Officer immediately leaps to the top of the list as

Best Band Name Ever.:P

[cwydro]

9. the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church

is so astounding, so appalling, so egregious - I simply have no words to express what I think about them. Priests running around molesting children while bishops cover their tracks...this story would be laughable if it weren't so pathetically sad.

[Chan790]

10. Yeah, I know...

I nearly got booted from Catholic University in DC for insisting (as a student government leader) that Cardinal Law resign as chairman of the board of trustees of the school.

[cwydro]

15. it really makes me sick

and especially with this sicko priest (the one that did Foley) talking about it like it is the most natural thing in the world for a grown man to hang out naked with a boy. :mad: :puke:

[Radical Activist]

16. hmm...

Lesbian safety officer at a Catholic girls school. This has porno written all over it.

[cobalt1999]

20. LOL

I'm glad I'm not the only one to think that.

[LostinVA]

21. Private school, so unfortunately they can *sigh*

Although alot of the good Sisters are lesbians... and, I do mean good Sisters -- true Christians.

on edit: I'm betting cash the Bishop told the principal to fire the officer... especially since the school community apparently accepted her and her partner.

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. I won't take that bet...

...because I believe you're right.

[LostinVA]

44. Yup

[Ian David]

56. I would normally agree that they can hire or fire anyone they want. BUT...

only so long as they don't accept faith-based initiative money, taxpayer vouchers, or other government hand-outs.

And why the fuck is it that they whine about a separation between church and state when we try and set limits on their activities, but they still feel free to try and impose their dogmas on OUR CIVIL GOVERNMENT-- and then put their hand-out for our tax dollars?

We can't tell them who they can fire, but they can tell us who we can marry? And then they demand that some of our tax dollars belong to them?

Fuck them.

They can't have it both ways.

[edbermac]

35. The Church needs a safety officer against pedophile priests.

:sarcasm:

[zonkers]

38. Lesbian Safety Officer? A great rental. I recommend it, Lesbian Safety

Officer II: Back in Training is also a good one.

[YankeyMCC]

41. Have they ever fired someone for

walking past a homeless person on the street?

I wonder

[Chan790]

49. No

but I feel that they should fire staff and faculty for any action contrary to catholic Social teachings. Walk past a homeless person, get fired. I give change to every homeless person who asks me, whether I can really afford it or not. This might go a ways to explaining why I'm always broke.

[RedCloud]

50. Why do lesbians get a safety officer?

To protect them?

[Zhade]

53. I fail to understand liberal Catholics.

Please, help me understand: why stay in a group whose leadership:

...covers up child rape;

...says gays/lesbians are living evil lives;

...lies about condoms passing AIDS, condemning millions in Africa;

...bases its teachings on unsupported assertions from a 2000+ year-old book written and re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-written by fallible men (I'd always thought liberals liked to deal in things like facts and evidence).

I just don't get it. I'm not calling any of you out - it truly perplexes me.

EDIT: shame on me, I forgot to list "discriminate against women"!

[Ian David]

57. Religion is a powerful and addictive drug. n/t

[LostinVA]

58. I even know a liberal GAY Catholic

He gets really angry with me when I mention what you just did...

[buddhamama]

62. i do too,

he happens to be my brother.

we grew up the faith. one can believe in the existence of god, and the community relationship of the church and be both liberal and gay. his experiences on an individual level have been positive.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

60. me either. i dont get it.

the homophobia and sexism in the catholic church is truly spectacular

as is the inhumane act of not allowing condom use in third world contries where HIV is such a problem