The Cincinnati Archdiocese has taken their "morality clause" to a whole new extreme in recent months. Teachers in the 19-county Archdiocese school system were presented with a strict new contract that, among other things, prohibits them from expressing any support for homosexuality:
The contract – double its predecessor's size – includes provisions that for the first time details prohibited practices such as gay "lifestyles" or public endorsements of homosexuality, out-of-wedlock relationships, abortions and fertility methods that go against Catholic teachings.
Furthermore, it redefines teachers as "teacher-minister." Why? To fend off lawsuits:
The contract calls each teacher a "teacher-minister," and that term is very specific because it's easier to fire a minister at a church organization than it is to fire someone just called a teacher, who could then file suit. This has happened, and the Archdiocese has lost one of those.my first thought was "what right wing zealot came up with this"? it sounds more like control and rejection of Pope Frankie's manifesto, are the cardinals and bishops fighting back and if so that puts the religion back where it was in medieval times. as to the out of wedlock relationships and fertility 98% of Catholic women have, do or will use contraception a finger in the eye of this new proposed doctrine. minister teachers isn't that fraud if those teachers have not been ordained?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/feb/17/keeping-facts-straight-98-catholic-women/
For veteran teacher Molly Schumate, enough was enough:
Though a lifelong Catholic and devoted teacher, the lengthy contract's starkly detailed restrictions on her personal life – and the freedom to publicly support her now 22-year-old son – stunned her.kudo's to her i suspect many more like her if this stands i see a mass defection from the religion and bad press, if status quo remains do the pedophile priest too? the new contract comes down hard on homosexual lifestyle but nothing about predator priest, what power does Pope Frankie have to prevent this sudden infringing on the flock and their personal life, is not those in charge only in charge at the front door of the sanctuary unless asked to intervene or are they just witch hunters in disguise?
"In my eyes there is nothing wrong with my son. This is what God gave me and what God created and someone I should never be asked to not support," she said from her Butler County home."If my son were to say to me, 'will you go somewhere with me that is supported or run by gays and lesbians,' I would have to tell him no, according to that contract. And if my picture was taken, what would happen?" she said.So for the first time in 14 years of teaching, Shumate will not be signing the Archdiocese's teacher employment contract for next school year. And when the last class bell at her Hamilton County school rings out the finish of the school year later this month, it will also toll the end of her Catholic teaching career.
