Catholic teacher in Cincinnati backs gay son, quits to protest contract

[theHandpuppet]

Catholic teacher backs gay son, quits to protest contract
Mom chooses to support son instead of signing Archdiocese contract.
The Cincinnati Enquirer/ Michael D. Clark

Veteran Catholic teacher Molly Shumate stared at the Cincinnati Archdiocese contract for next school year and thought of her son.

She remembered when a nervous Zachery Shumate, a teenager at the time, approached her and revealed his homosexuality.

His revelation prompted the first-grade teacher to give him a hug, telling her boy she would always love and support him.

So when the new teachers' contract – strictly forbidding public support of homosexuality – was handed to her earlier this year, she was torn....

Read the rest of the story at http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/education/2014/05/09/catholic-teacher-backs-gay-son-quitting-protest-controversial-contract/8898181/

Note: there is also a poll being conducted at the link above.

[Dawson Leery]

1. Where is the right wing to support academic freedom now?

[theHandpuppet]

2. Or one might ask, where is DU?

I find the lack of response here interesting, so to speak.

[smartphone]

3. She is a brave woman.

I think most readers here would simply go to the link and perhaps participate there.

I would hope most, or at least a majority of DU membership would praise this woman for taking a stand, but do it more publicly at the link you provided.

[madamvlb]

4. Stepping forward not backward

Love to hear these words.

[msanthrope]

5. Happy Mother's Day, Molly Shumate! You are a great one! nt

[theHandpuppet]

8. I'm sure he is as proud of her and she is of him

It's called love.

[HockeyMom]

6. Loyalty Oath

When I started working at a Florida Public School, I was asked to sign a Loyalty Oath to the Florida State Constitution. I refused to sign it, but they said I was the not first and wouldn't be the last.

One year after I started working Florida put that ban on gay marriage in their constitution. Could I have been fired if I signed that Loyalty Oath for supporting my gay daughter and her marriage in NY?

Is it just relevant to religous schools? Maybe not. I will post this on that board.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Can't quite bring myself to read the "teachers contract".

Frankly I don't have the strength... or the stomach... for that sort of thing anymore.

Kick and Rec.

(Ooops: I will go to the link and vote, though.Thanks for posting.)

[theHandpuppet]

10. I've read it

In fact, I posted a thread about it some time ago. I agree, you probably won't want to read it. But for anyone who wants more detail, here 'tis: http://www.democraticunderground.com/113736380

[bullwinkle428]

9. K&R. I thought Francis said "Who am I (are we) to judge?"

Apparently, the Archdiocese didn't get the memo.

[LuvNewcastle]

11. I think the school is going to get backlash from this.

A lot of liberal parents send their kids to Catholic schools because they've traditionally offered a superior education, but if the church keeps pulling stunts like this, they're going to lose students. To force anyone to sign such a contract is a loyalty oath, more or less, and that's contrary to a good education. I hope lots of the other teachers back this woman and her son and the other gay students.

[theHandpuppet]

12. Check out the poll results if you need a dose of depression for today

Damn. And some of the comments are disgusting.

[theHandpuppet]

13. And now California...

http://thealamedan.org/news/st-joes-elementary-teacher-speaks-out-against-morality-clause
St. Joe's elementary teacher speaks out against "morality clause"
Michele Ellson
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - 00:05

After 15 years as an art teacher at St. Joseph Elementary School, Annie Heller was considering retirement to take care of an aging parent. But new contract language that seeks to dictate the private conduct of teachers in all of the schools operated by the Catholic Church’s Oakland diocese sealed her decision to move on, she said.

Heller, who is among the 18 percent of teachers employed by the Oakland diocese who aren’t Catholic, has close friends and family members who are gay and a son who lives with his longtime girlfriend. Being gay and living with an unmarried partner are both prohibited by church teachings.

“I just felt like I can’t say, ‘Oh, let me sign this,’” Heller said during an interview late last week.

Heller is one of just a handful of East Bay Catholic school teachers to speak out publicly against the controversial contract language. She said she feels it’s important to speak out for others who can’t.... MORE at link posted above.