Catholic Students Protest Firing of Lesbian Teacher for Marrying

I have noted before that the younger generations are not buying into the homophobia of their parents and the bigots in many pulpits. The folks at Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts are finding out this reality first hand as students have begun protesting the firing of Christine M. Judd, who served as athletic director and dean of students. And why was she fired? Because she married her same sex partner last month - an act that is 100% legal under Massachusetts law. The Republican has this on Judd's firing:
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The athletic director at Cathedral High School lost her job this week, saying she was pressured to leave after marrying her female partner in August. Christine M. Judd, who served as athletic director and dean of students, said she is no longer an employee of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield school system after a meeting Wednesday with administrators of the Catholic high school.
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The diocese listed her departure as a resignation, but Judd said she is still exploring her legal options.
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“I married my partner this summer,” Judd said. “I was hoping that my loyalty, my professionalism the last 12 years would supersede the current hypocrisy that has already been shown with the Diocese of Springfield.”
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Asked to elaborate on her claim of hypocrisy, Judd said she questions if there are lay persons who work for the Catholic diocese who divorce and remarry without an annulment, or employees who use birth control, or men who have had vasectomies, or individuals who are pro-choice on abortion.
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WWLP-TV 22 News has coverage on the dozens of protesters who came out to voice their displeasure with the modern day Pharisees at Cathedral High School. Ms. Judd makes a good point when she says she suspects that gays get subjected to a different standard than others who break with the Catholic Church's 12th century views. Sadly, Catholicism has become increasingly synonymous with anti-gay bigotry, homophobia and hypocrisy. Here are highlights:
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Dozens of students and friends of Christine Judd came out to St. Michael's Cathedral to protest her resignation. Students told 22News she was forced to resign because she married her same sex partner this summer.
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"When I found out she was terminated and I found out why she was terminated, I was outraged and disgusted with the decision that was made. They have people working for them who are divorced, they have people who are using contraceptives, they have students who go to the school who are pregnant, and they don't make them leave, so why should they decide to act on those principles now?" said Martin Boyle, a Cathedral High School Senior.
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"If we're going to preach tolerance, we need to practice tolerance and I think the old ways are prohibiting us from doing that. We just think it's time for the church to progress,” said Alexandra Nicolai, a Cathedral High School Senior.
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22News spoke with some parishioners coming out of mass and asked them what they think about the diocese's decision.
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"I hear them screaming out there and they're absolutely correct. Who are we to judge? That's one of the main things we believe in church. We are not the ones to judge anybody, because God almighty does that," said Tatiana Flores, a parishioner.