As those who want Pope Francis to be something that he is not continue to delude themselves, the actions by bishops across the globe continue to prove that the Roman Catholic Church remains as anti-gay as ever. Actions, not a few seemly less intolerant words, tell the real story. And actions confirm that nothing has really changed in the Church, the world's last absolute monarchy. A case in point? The new teacher contract for teachers at Catholic Schools in the diocese of Cincinnati which not only targets gays but anyone else who fails to toe the line on the Church's warped obsession on sexual practices and in some ways, modernity, itself. Here are highlights from Cincinnati.com:
Teachers in Cincinnati Archdiocese schools could lose their jobs if they violate a new employment contract that clamps down on their personal lives beyond school walls.
The new contract obtained by The Enquirer has doubled in size and is strikingly different from previous Archdiocese teacher employment agreements.
For the first time, it details prohibited practices such as gay "lifestyles," out-of-wedlock relationships, abortions and fertility methods that go against Catholic teachings.
The contract for the 2014-15 school year explicitly orders teachers to refrain "from any conduct or lifestyle which would reflect discredit on or cause scandal to the school or be in contradiction to Catholic doctrine or morals." It goes so far as to ban public support of the practices.
Under the new contract, teachers are expressly prohibited from: "improper use of social media/communication, public support of or publicly living together outside of marriage; public support of or sexual activity out of wedlock; public support of/or homosexual lifestyle; public support of/or use of abortion; public support of/or use of a surrogate mother; public support or use of in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination."
Tom Miele, president of the pastoral council for the St. Monica-St. George Catholic Church in Clifton Heights, questioned the restrictions on personal behavior and freedom of expression. "It seems awfully intrusive and it all seems unfair," said the Covedale resident and father of three graduates from Archdiocesen schools.
More restrictive employment contracts are necessary, she said, "to assure that expectations are clear, church employers review policies and contractual language on a periodic basis. Recent court cases do not lessen the importance of this practice."
Most of the teachers in the Cincinnati Archdiocese's 19-county school system have not yet seen the new contract, which also covers local ministers. Deadlines for teachers to sign the new contract are set by their school employers, but in general the contracts are required to be signed by the end of the current school year.
Recent Archdiocese firings, suspensions, dismissals for clashing with church teaching
- In 2009 a nun was suspended by the Archdiocese for publicly supporting the ordination of women priests.
- Later that year a volunteer religion education teacher was dismissed after her letter to The Enquirer in support of the suspended nun was published.
- In 2010 the Cincinnati Archdiocese fired an unmarried teacher who became pregnant by artificial insemination. A federal court ruled in 2013 in her favor, ordering the Archdiocese to pay her $171,000 for her improper firing.
- In 2013, an assistant principal at Purcell Marian High School was fired for writing on his public blog his support of gay marriage.
Meanwhile, of course, the Church continues to engage in cover ups for sexual predator priests and fights tooth and claw to avoid paying just compensation to victims of sexual abuse. One can only hope that teachers who are able to find different jobs will leave the Catholic school system and that the system will slowly atrophy and die. Those who expect change in the Church delude themselves. Only by a mass exodus of members and, better yet, a cutting off of financial support will the Church ever be forced to change. It is a sick institution run by bitter old men, many of whom are in need of significant mental health interventions.
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