Stop us if you've heard this one before: a Catholic school fired a well-liked teacher for the "sin" of being gay.
Science teacher Sue Fustin is speaking out after she was fired by Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Decatur, Illinois late last month. It's just the latest example of a well-qualified teacher losing their job at a private religious school due to their sexual orientation.
"I have never felt so demeaned,” Fustin says. ”I've never felt my dignity ripped from me professionally like this."
Fustin says that gay teachers are being targeted, and argues that her firing is clear anti-LGBT discrimination. As evidence, she points out that the school currently employs divorced teachers.
Critics ask: why do gay sinners get fired, but other sinners get a free pass?
Terminator: Catholic Judgment Day
Sue Fustin is, by all accounts, a model teacher. She was a science teacher before moving into the role of school principal, then retired. Like many retirees with post-retirement restlessness, she applied to Our Lady of Lourdes as a way to jump back into the workforce and the classroom.
Fustin says she even brought up her same-sex marriage to the principal during the interview process. The principal reportedly dismissed the issue, saying, “I don't care. I need a teacher.”
Fustin signed a contract for the year and all seemed well – until a parent brought proof of her same-sex marriage to Our Lady of Lourdes priest, Father Friedel.
He told her she was terminated, effective immediately.
As Fustin recalls, "I said, 'Well does this have to do because I'm married to Deb?' And father shook his head. And the counsel said this is due to your marital status."
The school is so far remaining quiet on the issue, but issued a statement that said “all teachers in Catholic schools are ministers of the Catholic faith. As such, they sign a contract to publicly uphold Catholic church teaching."
Firing Squad
This is hardly the first time a religious school has fired a teacher for being gay. In fact, it's a scenario that's played out over and over and over again.
As private institutions, Catholic schools do have the legal right to let someone go for not upholding their values. But do they have the right to specifically target gay people?
Fustin argues that her firing is not just an example of failing to uphold Catholic values, but of specific discrimination because she is gay – pointing out that that there are plenty of sinning teachers at the school. Why is she the only one fired for her sin? Fustin asks.
"I don't understand all that much more about the Catholic Doctrine, but if people are divorced, but yet still work there,” she argues. “If people are living with other people and have children out of wedlock, but they still work there. I don't understand why me being gay is any different then those things."
What do you think? Should Catholic schools face pushback for routinely targeting gay teachers, while letting other sins slide? Or do private religious organizations have every right to hire and fire based on religious values?
70 comments
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Rev Dr N
I find it disgusting that they would fire someone based on their private lives which, they keep private. Being gay/lesbian is not a matter of choice, something that someone wakes up in the morning and says... I think I will be gay now. It is within the very make up of the person themselves, they have no control over that and...God created their lives as He did ours. If God was totally against a man loving a man, a woman loving a woman, then He would not have allowed the hormones to be as they are. Private lives mean just that, they are private and no one has the right to judge anyone about anything, only God can do that but, anyone who does judge others, then we are the ones that are guilty of sin, for discrimination, for assuming the role of God.
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Lorraine Sue Ann Smith
If they're going to fire people for being gay oh, then they need to go through and take care of everybody who's sinning against the Catholic Church. God is Not discriminatory. He sees all takes care of all this is one. So therefore the Catholic church should not discriminate against one things to take care of all so if you're going to discipline one person for their sin you must discipline everybody for their sin. If you're going to discipline this one person for being gay and married to another woman, you must discipline the people who have been divorced or have been living together out of wedlock have children out of wedlock Etc...... God sees all and if you're only discriminating against one God is going to discriminate against you. You must open your eyes Catholic people.
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Rev. Rory
Testing 4-15-2022
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JWH
So while I personally do not condone or agree with the homosexual lifestyle, I have several friends who are homosexual. I do not treat them any differently than my "straight" friends. We can disagree about lifestyle choices without it affecting our abilities to work together or be friends. In this instance, I agree with the teacher. If the school is going to discipline/terminate employees for doing something that goes against what the church teaches, I think it should be even across the board.
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David E. Leckrone
What a concept! Stooping to the same hate-orientated level in your response. A little childish, don't you think?
Private organizations can enforce whatever they desire (hence "private") whether you agree or not.
You may withhold your participation, support and are entitled to your opinion but you do NOT have the right to condemn. What separates you from the narrow-minded book burners?
"Don't talk about your philosophy, embody it." ~ Epictitus
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Paul Edward Nunis
The US Supreme Court was very clear that the 'ministerial exception' only applied to employees who perform actual religious ministry duties. And it remains illegal for any employer to take adverse action against a worker because of who they choose to legally fall in love with. Pure hypocrisy on the part of the school.
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Raymond Dennis Lams
There seem to be a great deal of sweeping accusations and statements based on partial historic and contemporary fact. Why blame this religion or another as that blame accomplished nothing. Read the headline listed below: WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF THE SAME UNIVERSE. Are we all not ministers or am I mistaken. Many comments are truly reasonable in their comments while others snipe or vent.based on their own experience(s).
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Ronaldo
Rather than focusing on whether or not she was the only, or the worst, sinner on the staff, Ms. Fustin should be focusing on what her contract with the college actually says. If it allows for divorced people to teach there, but not those in a marriage the school does not recognize, then she is in violation of that agreement. If it is vague, without actually stating what "church teaching" actually is, she may have a case. A question unanswered by this article is whether or not she did inform the principal that she was in a same-sex marriage when she applied for the job. She claims she said she was, but the principal did not care. They don't mention the principal's side of the discussion, however. In fact, from this article, we don't even know if they have any divorced staff, as she said "if people are divorced, but yet still work there. If people are living with other people and have children out of wedlock, but they still work there." She said "if", not "there are", so perhaps the school is stricter than Ms. Fustin is claiming.
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Christopher Lee Campbell
It's worth remembering that as recently as the early-to-mid 20th century, teachers were expected to be unmarried. By then, almost all were women, especially in the elementary grades. If they married, they had to resign. I'm not sure what principle this standard was based on. Perhaps a worry that somehow the topic of sex might come up?
When I was beginning high school in 1961, a young man was not allowed to participate in football because he was married. Yes, true story. In those days, married high school students were extremely rare. As I recall, the main concern was that as a married person he would have some first-hand knowledge of intimate behavior. He might share some of that knowledge in the locker room, and who knows what ideas the other boys might get? Surely they were filed with virginal thoughts, free of sex or its attractions....
Yes, it's a slippery slope. First married teachers, then married students, and pretty soon our young people are thinking about sex. Surely they would never have had such ideas if we had shielded them from such talk. Yes, sex should be a secret until it is revealed by a priest or minister in premarital counseling a week before the marriage. Oh yes, that would solve the problem of sex.
Chris Campbell
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Marie Gilbert
The termination of a teacher because of her sexual identity was a definite discrimination, and she should sue the Church
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Rev. Rory
testing site.
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Lisa Rose Morton
The United States is a democracy. In this democracy gay and lesbian marriage is legal. It should be illegal for any business to not hire a gay or lesbian person simply because of their sexual orientation. The only reason should be because of their inability to perform the job. That is why in our democracy we have been working very hard to legislate against abuse and prejudiced like outlawing slavery. It is time to stop abusing gay and lesbian people. Love your neighbor as yourself.
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Liliana Janeatte Vasquez
Religion in of itself needs to be completely and totally replaced as non of the institutions have led humanity to salvation nor can any of them prove their belief systems to be absolute truths. Nothing in the universe is an absolute. These are opinions. All based on some sort of rules of order created by men whom all are susceptible to the flaws that all of us humans can and are more likely to inherit. The sin in of itself lies in the inability for anyone who falls into the absolution of faith based on said regulations to question the effectiveness of a practice. Are we better humans thousands of years into said systems or have said systems only encourage our divisions? This person here shouldn't have to explain to any of us why she loves who she loves. For the main purpose of faith is love in of itself.
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Marcyline Willingham
Honestly without seeing her contract it is hard to take a side from a business point of view. Entertaining any other thoughts are not relavent until everyone knows what the contract says. Is it stated in her contract? If so then she has no ground and shouldn't have seeked employment there. Conversely if it doesn't state that in the contract then that is the school's wrong doing.
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Daniel Richard Griffin
The ONLY question the church should have is whether or not she is promoting her lifestyle in her classroom. If she is not, then leave her alone.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
The Church has every right to hire someone of moral lifestyle and leadership. Not the opposite. You let in one immoral person you open the doors to more immoral behaviour.
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Victoria Wilson
The same religion that worship Mary and not our Lord and savior Jesus Christ? Idolatrous religions are an abomination to the most high God!
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Victoria Wilson
Is it true that Catholic people worship and pray to Mary, which is a form of idolatry? Or is it truly Jesus they worship but mother Mary is just in the way? All sin is an abomination to our most perfect Lord God.
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Liliana Janeatte Vasquez
ins't praying to Jesus also idolatry?
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Nicholas J Page
It doesn't matter if your gay , straight, black, white As long as you can do your job whatever your sexuallity is .This fine young woman needs to sue the school and State for sexual discrimination.Thats what happens here in the UK.I have been fighting a disability hate crime with a SOAB Neighbour who is a civil servant for our local cops They know it's a hate incident but have failed to act on it
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Thomas Edwin Peterson
The old adage don't ask don't tell" pretty much handles the attitudes such organizations have. It may not be what the individual wants but going against established authority seldom has a desired effect when someone want's to buck the system as it exists.
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Kelly Manning
Quit accepting and normalizing homosexuality. It's perversion. What's next? Beastiality? Woe be to anyone to make another sin. You'd be better off with a millstone around your neck. It's not okay. Jesus is returning soon. Homosexuality has no place in God's world period. If you accept this behavior, you deny God.
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Shirley Jean Davis
I believe that Jesus taught us to love everyone, period. He said to love thy neighbor as thy self, do people who hate homosexuals hate themselves? The school is in the wrong because they are teaching children to hate. That, my friends, is a grave sin.
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Ricky Shawn Pitcock
Rev Ricky Pitcock : I believe marriage is between man and woman, like the Good book says..I do not agree firing someone for thier life choices unless it breaks some rules of conduct while being employed by the church...Its not our moral rights to object but to to encourage are selfs to live by they way the bible says...
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
This is not news, just an update. An update that says that religious people are not only universally delusional but as a general rule discriminatory twits.
Thanks for telling me nothing has changed.
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Rev. John Bolen
Schools are intended to give students a general knowledge or career knowledge education , depending on level . Personal beliefs should not be injected into the curriculum . If she would have kept her personal life out of the classroom , and not tried to influence her students by it , she might still have a job . Just something to think about .
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Michael Anton Goedeker
How was she influencing cirriculum with who she is? I am not sure what you really mean with your comments and opinions. Every person influences others by our existence, so are you saying we should all stop existing or are you saying that being gay magically influences people differently than being hetrosexual???
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Rev. John Bolen
What I am saying is that schools have a purpose , which is general education . Anything that distracts from that , regardless of whether the instructor is gay/lesbian or heterosexual , should not be in schools . This is just my opinion and I probably don't know all the details of this particular incident.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Once again, Catholics reveal themselves as a hate group.
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Deacon Michael
A very complicated and sad situation for this beloved teacher. I sure hate to say this but unfortunately the Catholic Church has their rules. Maybe this teacher along with her experience in her profession should teach at another denomination where her orientation is accepted.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Better yet, maybe the school should be sued into non-existence.
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Gail Dobson
It's just another example of they hypocrisy of the church. Divorce is ok, even "living in sin" unmarried is ok. It's not ok to marry someone you love if they happen to be same gender as you. Ah yes, such a religion of love, LOL.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Official Catholic dogma is against one being openly gay, whether male, female or other,
While I do sympathize, this person should have thought through the consequences of taking a job from such an employer.
17 March made 47 years since I left "Holy Mother Church."
As to the Church hiding pedophilia for years, if not centuries, I believe my dad suspected, being why my brother and I never were altar boys.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
But it's ok for a priest to rape a child. Oh the hypocrisy.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
We should encourage our Catholic school children to hang up on pedophile priests, and rape them!
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
The letter h is to the right of the g on my phone, so I guess I hit it by mistake, in my above comment.
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John P Maher
CATHOLIC PRIESTs ARE WELL KNOWN PERVERTs CHILD MOLESTERS, WHY ARE THEY the CHURCH MOLESTING A GAY TEACHER ? GO AFTER the REAL PROBLEM, THE CHURCH, THE VATICAN, THE MONEY !
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Raymond Dennis Lams
Perversions and child molestations are not the sole property of Catholics! These problems span the entirety of society whether ordained or not. You list the church, the Vatican, and the money as problems. All churches have some governing body, a place where this governing body resides, and a need for money to sustain itself and its missionary works. The Catholic Church is very old and has, over time, amassed a good deal of property which is supported by its members of their free will. Additional monies are collected for missionary works which are spent as needed. These monies are spent according to the will of the people. All religions have some sort of ritual(s) they follow and, yes, Catholic, Orthodox, Episcopal, as well as others, have rituals which express a waste of money rather than devotion.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
The Catholic church has more recorded cases of pedophile clergy than any other religion.
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Keoni Ronald May
School policies, school rules, school procedures, should involve the right of associations, as well as religious dictates. *** There are many other schools, that do not have higher standards. *** Individuals, should not dictate school politics, school rules, and school procedures. ***
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Daniel Gray
Sorry for her luck but ALL teachers have to sign an "ethics" pledge and since the school has the right to demand specific things from their employees, she cant blame anyone but herself. A gay professor filed a lawsuit for him being fired from Notre Dame University, and it went all the way up to the federal courts and was thrown out with prejudice. A teacher in Toledo Ohio who worked at a catholic school was fired because she admitted after she was hired that she was gay, even though the contract she signed of her own free will clearly stated that if she was gay she would still be able to work there, just not participate in any gay rights parades or give any implications that she was gay and a teacher at the school. She sued and it went to the 6th US District Court (one step below the US Supreme Court as that would be the next one they would appeal to if she lost the case. She did lose the case and again it was thrown out with prejudice and the SCOTUS refused to hear it anyway. people need to start reading the contracts they sign BEFORE they sign them instead of whining and crying after they sign them and then get fired for doing something they agreed they wouldnt do. Sorry but absolutely no pity for them as they looked before they leaped.
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Michael Anton Goedeker
I have a different opinion to yours, while the school does have a signature for rules it can not break state or national law. If it does the contract is void for legal reasons. Having said that if the school or hospital were "true" Catholic the the Bible also has clear guidance on these matters namely that 1. God is the only one that has the right to judge someone. 2. those who are without sin can then judge others, since we are all sinners by default (Adam / Eve arguement for Catholics and Christians) no one has any right to judge someone else for anything. Lastly 3, No! Teachers are NOT ministers or Priests. The requires a ritual and vows that differ from others that are not Priests or Nuns in that order. So the comment that teachers are priests is sacreligious at best.
I find it curious that Christians are making scenes and judging gay folks but no one is outraged by Russian soliders and the Russian Orthodox Churches claiming that molesting children and raping mothers in front of kids is in any way acceptable or the sign of a God fearing Christian. Its beyond barbaric and if humanity believes it is right in doing these types of two faced pseudo-judgements and pseudo-right trip we really don't deserve to live on this planet.
As far as the trolls here are concerned don't feed them, let their trash worlds and negative ideas drop to the ground where they belong....
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flugo
One of a few sensible, valid, objective viewpoints in this posting! Well done!
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Why are they called “Catholic Schools” when their primary purpose is to brainwash (aka, indoctrinate) their little kiddies.
“Give me a tender, little-buddy child’s brain, until he’s six or so, and his mind will be receptive to silliness and other religiously motivated medieval nuttiness, until he dies.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Yet when a priest continually molests children, they are simply transferred repeatedly. At least until a lawsuit or criminal charges are brought against the church. Otherwise, they continue to put that priest in hands reach (Literally) of children. But don’t let a gay person teach your children. That is against God. What a joke!
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Kelly Manning
That's not the subject matter. Don't turn ideology around to suit your needs. Homosexuality has no place in God's world. Neither does anyone who molest anyone. It's all perversion.
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Rev Mark D
No sympathy. This teacher applied for her job under false pretenses.
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Michael Anton Goedeker
How so, she stated who she was and her partner. How is that in any way a false pretense. She didn't lie so there is the false in this?
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Melvyn R. Winge
Agreed! She was lied to, told it made no difference.
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Nicholas J Page
The school employed her so they must have known Only in America Shame on you
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
As if to say that the UK didn't have anything to be ashamed of, Nicholas. There wouldn't be a U.S.A. (the greatest nation on Earth) if it wasn't for the shameful behavior of your homeland of England. Talk about a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
That teacher should thank the narrow minded administrators at the school where she was teaching. Right now K-12 teachers straight, gay or what ever are in demand in California and New Mexico. In New Mexico they would welcome her with open arms, pay her more money than she is making now, provide her with free housing AND give her $6,000 to move.
It's stupid stuff like this that church leaders do which make young people turn away from Christianity these days.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Yeah bex a use she could spread her evil disgusting lifestyle to little kids. I love how you sheeple have accepted the sodomocracy we now live in. Gzys don't need special rights. They already have them as citizens. They don't get extra rights and neither should any other group.
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Rev Jack
Wow. What are you and your hate even doing in this group? Are you supposed to be at a book burning somewhere?
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Sandra Cottam-Shea
Do a bit of research and you will find that Jesus supported gay relationships (healing the Roman soldiers servant, as 'servant' was accepted as a same sex lover in those times). Jesus was nothing but love and all these years later people are judgemental and comparative over people's beliefs and religions. Keith that shite you follow is a man made narrative to suit the ones that want control at the time...most of the hideous torture devices were created by the Catholic church in their less than appealing inquisitions. It's still all about money and power and not Christ and love.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Funny. If you'd do your homework young people are the ones flocking to Christianity. Before making a stupid statement do your homework.
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Alan Meunier
I have FACTS refuting your opinion... maybe do YOUR homework instead of relying on faux news...https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2019/01/15/lifeway-research-survey-says-young-adults-dropping-out-church/2550997002/
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
First of all the Catholic Church alone has Over 2 billion members and the young aren't leaving. You only list Protestants. What are they but 600 you old heretics.
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Martin L Stigleman
Although I hate feeding trolls, allow me to help out...
"Since the turn of the century, the percentage of U.S. adults with no religious affiliation has more than doubled, from 8% to 19%."
"The past 20 years have seen an acceleration in the drop-off, with a 20-percentage-point decline since 1999 and more than half of that change occurring since the start of the current decade."
"Just 42% of millennials are members of churches, on average."
"Gallup has previously reported that church attendance has dropped more among Catholics than among Protestants. Consistent with this, the decline in church membership has been greater among Catholics. Twenty years ago, 76% of Catholics belonged to a church; now, 63% do."
https://news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-sharply-past-two-decades.aspx
Of course, you can deny the source...so lets instead look at National Catholic Reporter, who also disagree with your "homework".
https://www.ncronline.org/news/media/poll-church-membership-continues-decline-21st-century
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Martin L Stigleman
Just in case my previous, and very long, reply didn't post, allow me to help out...The National Catholic Reporter seems to differ with your "Homework".
https://www.ncronline.org/news/media/poll-church-membership-continues-decline-21st-century
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Raymond Dennis Lams
This behavior by Catholic administrators is not necessarily country wide. I taught in a Catholic high school for 7 years in Michigan and ran a religious education program for several years in NYC. I was even asked by the pastor of my Catholic church to teach religious ed for one year, was elected to and chaired the worship commission, was a lector as well as a minister of the eucharist. I am now 79 and I can honestly say I have not been discriminated against in the Church. Everyone has accepted me as I am, has known my husband to be my husband and have also accepted him. In fact, the priest who O.K.'d my appointment as a Catholic school teacher is now a Archbishop-no, he's not gay. The actions as some are dependent on THEIR OWN prejudices but seem to be blamed on the worldwide church rather than on the local entity.
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Loraine Mussatti
You are very fortunate and blessed with a loving, open minded Catholic church leader. This is not the case in most Catholic diocese
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Gerardo Salazar
It is extremely sad that while Europe in general respects the gay community in general as shown by the Commission for Marriage and Family of the German Bishops’ Conference admitting that homosexuality is a “normal form of sexual predisposition and agreeing to review topics such as “sacrament of ordination and marriage” which means they could endorse same-sex marriage in the future and ordaining openly gay bishops other countries, like in this case the US still maintain a quasi Victorian attitude towards those who are “different”.
As an heterosexual person I do respect the gay community and see its components as useful and law abiding members of society and frankly what they do at home is no business of mine and as Voltaire expressed so eloquently "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” but apparently educators in America have never read Voltaire and still carry the paranoia about the Great Gay Threat in a similar way to Senator Joe McCarthy’s crusade against everybody who did not think like him.
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flugo
What 'sue fussin' about?! 'If you don't like the heat, get outta the kitchen!' they say.
She signed a contract, so she ought to honor that without complaining. And, if she's intelligent enough to be a teacher, she ought to be aware how grievous, how immoral, how despicable the sins of the LGBTQxyz-ers are.
The private church-related schools have the right to have a staff, free of this kind of lifestyle.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Amen.
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Gary Stephen Lowden
I guess the point is, all the teachers signed the same contract but the school is only selectively enforcing its terms. That is the part that make what they did illegal.
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Melvyn R. Winge
Gary, your reply is one of few that deals with the question at hand. This is not about her "lifestyle", although it is, but about the school/church singling her out. I'm not Catholic, but as I understand it, THE CHURCH does not believe in divorce, it is seen as a "sin". Fine, but it that is a sin and being gay is a sin, then all those sinners, not just one, should be treated equally. "Living in Sin" aka with someone out of wedlock, also qualifies so there goes another batch of good teachers. All private schools have their own standards, but they should be applied equally across the staff. And, have you ever noticed that it is so often Women who are singled out more than men? But that is another issue all together.
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Rev. Laurie G. Cleveland RN
Ok. I was hired, then had to go to a client's home to learn how to do a wound vac with my LPN,Betsy Bolt. I pretty much said nothing except to answer the patient who said in a snide voice, Oh! You're one of those." She pointed to my pentacle and then said, Isuppose you heal, too. I replied, as a matter of fact I do. That was it. Betsy showed me how to place the wound vac and we left. The next dat, I was summarly called into rhe office and the person who had hired me wanted my head on a platter. She made up this bogus story about trying to recruit the patient from the night before into becoming Wiccan. She showed her utter lack of knowledge about it. It's luke the Masons in order to be one, you have to ask one and even then, it's not automatic. It's a year and a day for each level. My pTients unanimously wanted me to stay because compared to many of the others, I was really good and treated them like friends and family. Ultimately, she made it impossible for me to do my job. She took my LPN away. Who quit. The LPN recommended thst I give my notice as well. I should have, but I was under a contract of a higher nature, tgat of a promise that I made to God. In order to work in that state, because she made me look so bad, I woyld have to go before the board of nurses, this time I would have to hire a high priced lawyer. On top of that, the agency took over the entire state, which is illegal. They have a central hiring agency. Maine dors the same thing. If this teacher did her job, wasn't a rabid LBGT person and the kids learned from het, who gives a hoit? It's like callung the kettle black. Priests have been either gay, pick on kids or women who hsve no defence agInst them. Especially in the padt. My great grandmother had to leave PEI because she got raped by a priest and nobody believed her. O had another dog show friend from Newfoundland who had been beaten every day for any impure thoughts that may have had. He waS one screqed up dude.
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Wayne Chattillon
Bare in mind That the Scool is Oviuasly Roman catholic The Roman Catholic Church, the largest Christian denomination in the United States with an estimated 62 million members, has welcomed celibate gay and lesbian people into its church life but increasingly is becoming more intolerant even of this population. https://www.hrc.org/resources/stances-of-faiths-on-lgbt-issues-roman-catholic-church
Really? They didn't seem to mind same sex couplings when I was excommunicated at age ten in 1970 by the archbishop of Boston for having the audacity to complain when not one but two of their "holy" priests sexually abused me. They didn't seem to mind when a convent in Massachusetts in the 1950's had a mother superior who was sexually abusing novices, one of whom was my grandmother's cousin. So I think I figured it out. The Roman Catholic Church isn't against same sex sexual couplings. They're opposed to ones that are consensual!