Principal who fired teacher in same-sex marriage resigns

-

The principal of a Catholic school on the Main Line who sparked outrage after reportedly firing a teacher because she is in a same-sex marriage resigned on Friday, according to reports.

Nell Stetser, five-year principal of Waldron Mercy Academy, announced her resignation via email on Friday citing a personal decision to leave her post, Philly Voice reported. Stetser raised public ire after she fired Margie Winters, director of religious education, in July 2015 for being a lesbian.

Winters said she told the school about her relationship when she was hired eight months prior.According to 6ABC, a parent complained to the school upon learning about Winters’ relationship.

Kimberly M. Baxter, chair of the school's Board of Trustees, sent out an email on Friday directly after Stetser’s was sent writing that Stetser had informed the board of her plan to resign on Wednesday.

Baxter called Stetser a "true woman of Mercy" who has "led our school with great integrity," Philly.com reported.

Baxter continued the email referencing "the many challenges and difficult decisions through which Nell has had to shepherd Waldron Mercy Academy. We recognize that much pain still exists among the Waldron family in regards to the difficult decision that led to the loss of a beloved teacher, colleague and friend. It is our hope that this community can continue in the healing process, so that together we can maintain the wonderful traditions that have made Waldron the special place that it is."

Last year, Sisters of Mercy, the religious order that sponsors the school, claimed Waldron Mercy's Catholic identity could have been put at risk if Winters had not been fired.

Stetser, “shaken” by the firing, arranged for parents and students to meet and talk about the situation, but the parents of the 532 students threatened to withdraw their children from the academy.

Winters and 50 others hand-delivered a petition signed by 23,000 people to the offices of the Archdiocese's Center City offices in August 2015. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said the school showed "character and common sense" by firing Winters, Philly Voice reported.



"Schools describing themselves as Catholic take on the responsibility of teaching and witnessing the Catholic faith in a manner true to Catholic belief," Chaput said in 2015, NBC10 reported. "There's nothing complicated or controversial in this. It's a simple matter of honesty."

Popular posts from this blog

Ontario Catholic school board to vote on flying gay ‘pride flag’ at all board-run schools

-
Image
A Catholic school board in Ontario will vote next week on a motion to fly the rainbow-colored homosexual pride flag at all board-run schools during the month of June. Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) Trustee Brenda Agnew gave notice of her motion titled “supporting our diverse school community” during an April 6 board meeting. Quoting Pope Francis along with LGBT talking points about “equity and inclusion,” the motion calls for the Board’s Director of Education Pat Daly to “direct all HCDSB schools including the Catholic Education Centre to fly the Pride flag during the month of June starting with 2021.” The motion is expected to be voted on by the Board at their next meeting on April 20. With nine trustees, the motion requires five votes to pass. A tied vote results in a fail. The HCDSB states on its website that its mission is to provide “excellence in Catholic education by developing Christ-centred individuals enabled to transform society.” The Catholic Church, basing i...
Read more

Christian baker must make ‘wedding’ bakes for gay couples, court rules

-
Image
DENVER, CO ,  – A Colorado board has ruled that a Christian business owner must make wedding cakes for homosexual "marriages" despite his religious objections. Business owner Jack Phillips came under legal fire in 2012, when he refused to bake a cake for Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig , who had traveled to Massachusetts for a marriage license, and wanted to celebrate in their home state. They sued on the basis of a state law that prevents the application of religious beliefs if one owns a business. The Commission's ruling, which was issued verbally on Friday, orders Phillips to report every three months for the next two years on anti-discrimination training for his staff, and any customers who are refused service at his establishment. "I can believe anything I want, but if I'm going to do business here, I'd ought to not discriminate against people," said one of the Civil Rights Commission 's seven members in a public statement. Phil...
Read more

Australia: Gay Hate tribunals are coming

-
Image
Are Hate Tribunals Are Coming In Canada , it is considered discriminatory to say that marriage is between a man and a woman or that every child should know and be raised by his or her biological married parents.  It is not just politically incorrect in Canada to say so; you can be saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, fined, and forced to take sensitivity training. Anyone who is offended by something you have said or written can make a complaint to the Human Rights Commissions and Tribunals. In Canada, these organizations police speech, penalizing citizens for any expression deemed in opposition to particular sexual behaviors or protected groups identified under “sexual orientation.” It takes only one complaint against a person to be brought before the tribunal, costing the defendant tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. The commissions have the power to enter private residences and remove all items pertinent to their investigations, checkin...
Read more