Judge refuses to toss suit against Catholic school that fired teacher for ‘marrying’ gay partner
SEATTLE, WA , May 29, 2014 – A Washington judge last week denied a request by Eastside Catholic School and the Archdiocese of Seattle to dismiss a discrimination lawsuit filed by the school’s former vice principal, who was forced to resign in December for “ marrying ” his homosexual lover. Mark Zmuda sued Eastside Catholic in March, claiming the school violated its own discrimination policy in asking him to leave his job. But the school has repeatedly pointed to the morality clause Zmuda and all diocesan employees have signed, agreeing to publicly uphold the teachings of the Catholic faith , which expressly forbid same-sex “marriage.” School and archdiocesan attorneys asked King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer to toss out the suit, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction to rule on the case without violating the school’s first amendment right to freedom of religion. But in a decision issued Friday, Shaffer disagreed, writing, “The Federal and Supr