tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post6303733219160266420..comments2024-03-28T20:30:10.681-04:00Comments on southern orders: FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST MACON CATHOLIC PRIVATE SCHOOL PLACES MACON, GEORGIA AT GROUND ZERO IN TERMS OF THE FURTHER INTRUSION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERMNENT INTO FAITH AND MORALS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!Fr. Allan J. McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-84150564248619856172015-07-23T22:57:43.779-04:002015-07-23T22:57:43.779-04:00Paul:
Yes, the teacher made a choice as well. Bu...Paul:<br /><br />Yes, the teacher made a choice as well. But don’t forget -- he is alleging that the school knew about that choice and appeared to have no problem with it, giving him another year’s contract. If that allegation is correct, I don’t think you can necessarily infer that he chose his same sex marriage over his music and his students. Of course, I am just going by what has been reported. Now that the case has reached the litigation stage, the legal system will sort it all out.<br /><br />There’s one sure way to find out. Go and live there and then compare. Of course one has to have criteria of comparison. It is always important in these comparisons of the best places to live or the greatest country etc. to identify what measure(s) one is using and how accurate the measurements are. Can we reach consensus on these matters? To what extent are they subjective?<br /> Anonymous 2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-34732591982731343352015-07-23T19:41:09.076-04:002015-07-23T19:41:09.076-04:00Anon2:
Didn't the teacher make a choice as we...Anon2:<br /><br />Didn't the teacher make a choice as well? I think he did and the choice wasn't music or the students. That's why I said: "hopefully we choose to use those gifts wisely, with great respect and humility". Perhaps the teacher had other priorities.<br /><br />I'm sure that there are many, many people "of good will" (as some of the Papal encyclicals address) that through no fault of their own do not know God or reject Him outright. Not judging souls here. Just posing a question based upon surveys and statistics that seem to find a high degree of atheism and agnosticism amongst developed countries and (coincidentally?) that many of those countries usually top lists of "best places to live". Are they really?<br /><br />Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-66098624604622913692015-07-23T01:06:16.860-04:002015-07-23T01:06:16.860-04:00Paul:
"Are the children and parents distress...Paul:<br /><br />"Are the children and parents distressed that the music instructor made a choice or that the church made a choice?"<br /><br />The parents and children were distressed that Flint Dollar would no longer be their music teacher because the diocese would not permit him to continue teaching at the school. Let’s not get distracted from the point under discussion, that is, why someone like Flint Dollar would want to teach at a Catholic school. The parents’ and students’ distress over his having to leave confirm that he loved what he was doing, that he did it well and cared about his students, and that the parents and students knew these things and appreciated him for it (as doubtless many of his faculty colleagues did too). These are all good reasons for wanting to continue in a particular job. Is this so hard to understand?<br /><br />“Other ‘developed’ countries do have ‘universal health care’. How are those countries spiritually? In what direction are they headed? Do they follow the footsteps of Christ or are they rotting inside?”<br /><br />Leaving aside the issue of whether there is any connection between universal health care and the matters you mention, I have some very close friends (as well as relatives) in England who are not religious and indeed would describe themselves as agnostic or even atheist. I know them well (or knew them well because some are deceased). They are (or were) decent, kind, generous, and loving people. I truly believe that they will have (have had) an easier time at their particular judgment than many who call themselves Christian. I also believe that God is (was) at work in them even though they do (did) not recognize this. The United States appears to be the most religious Western nation but we all know that in many cases it is just that – appearance. None of this denies my commitment to Catholicism or the need to evangelize. It is just a reminder that we should not judge a book by its cover.<br /><br /><br />Anonymous 2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-52890660191357971072015-07-22T16:25:07.039-04:002015-07-22T16:25:07.039-04:00Fr. Kavanaugh, I don't think this administrat...Fr. Kavanaugh, I don't think this administration and a number of prior administrations reflect the CCC's definition or intention of "the Common Good". At some time I think we tried (or did we?) to follow where the Church's definition of "the common good" would lead us but instead allowed ourselves to became lost, scattered, fat and lazy in our fruits. Has our efforts for clean air, clean water and mighty buildings brought us as a society closer to God? If so, for all these efforts, churches should be overflowing daily. We'll see where this Government's definition of "the common good" leads us. We'll see if the fruits of The Government will pack the well-constructed churches where Christ is the center.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-38088609597595345462015-07-22T13:07:22.857-04:002015-07-22T13:07:22.857-04:00Paul - The government mandates mileage, water puri...Paul - The government mandates mileage, water purity, and safe construction for a very good reason - the Common Good.<br /><br />Does allowing gas guzzlers on the highway benefit the Common Good? No. Does allowing poisonous water to be pumped through a city's water system benefit the Common Good? No. Does allowing shoddy construction of public buildings benefit the Common Good? No.<br /><br />That is why the government is involved. And none of these involvements is in any way a matter of "Communism." <br /><br />The function of government is not, as you suggest, "to promote and encourage a healthy atmosphere where these enterprises can operate." Rather it is "to defend and promote the common good of civil society, its citizens, and intermediate bodies." (CCC 1910) Within that function the state, "is to guarantee this security, so that those who work and produce can enjoy the fruits of their labors and thus feel encouraged to work efficiently and honestly. . . . Another task of the state is that of overseeing and directing the exercise of human rights in the economic sector. However, primary responsibility in this area belongs not to the state but to individuals and to the various groups and associations which make up society."" (CCC 2431) <br /><br />I want a government that fines the you-know-what out of a business that pollutes my water, that builds shoddy buildings that collapse and kill my neighbors, that produces a gas-guzzling vehicle that drives up my cost of fuel and causes further degradation to the environment. If businesses choose not to operate with the cost of regulation as part of their business model, they can (and should) go out of business. <br /><br /><br /><br />Fr. Michael J. Kavanaughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-54539976295920167762015-07-22T10:40:26.148-04:002015-07-22T10:40:26.148-04:00Fr. Kavanaugh - Yes -- why is the government in th...Fr. Kavanaugh - Yes -- why is the government in the automobile business? Yes -- why does the government have its fingers in water purity? Yes -- why depend upon the government for building standards? Yes, I do. Is it really needed that the government is, necessarily, involved in all these things? The function of the government is to promote and encourage a healthy atmosphere where these enterprises can operate -- not own them by way of expensive, time consuming regulations and fines.<br /><br />Why is the state involved in Catholic institution hiring and firing practices? Why does the state legalize abortions? Does the state think it can run Catholic institutions better? Does the state think it can destroy life better? "State mandated" does not describe a Communist system. Mandated and regulated to the point where The Government, in effect, runs businesses as if they owned them or takes it over because it needs (in the Government's perception) to be "fixed" or "bailed out". That is the road to Communism and that is simply the way Communism works.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-69904445740502616172015-07-22T07:52:23.887-04:002015-07-22T07:52:23.887-04:00Paul - Would state mandated mileage requirements f...Paul - Would state mandated mileage requirements for cars be part of Communism as a whole? What about state mandated purity laws for drinking water? Would state mandated safety requirements for building construction be a part of a Communist system? Maybe you could live with state mandated minimum wages, overlooking your fear that these, along with all state mandated standards, are "Communist" at heart.<br /><br />"State mandated" is not a description of a Communist system. The state mandates that you stop at red lights, that you pay sales taxes on most purchases, that you not fire weapons in populated areas.<br /><br />There is nothing in the ACA that requires state hospitals, doctors, or nurses. States should have goals - stated purposes for the collection and spending of taxes. This is not a Communist plot, it is simply the way government works.Fr. Michael J. Kavanaughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-60103691891562106382015-07-22T02:28:01.093-04:002015-07-22T02:28:01.093-04:00Fr. Kavanaugh, It's not that parts of the AC...Fr. Kavanaugh, It's not that parts of the ACA are communist it's that state-mandated health systems like the ACA would be a necessary part of Communism as a whole. State hospitals, state doctors, state nurses, state spending, and state goals. The present USA VA would be a closer example to a state-run health care system.<br /><br />Catholics are called to feed the poor. Clever politicians desiring the Catholic bloc propose massive social spending. The unwary Catholics are relieved in knowing that they are doing their part for The Government to "feed the poor". All nice and tidy. The eventual message: people and churches can't be trusted to feed fellow people in need -- charity is from The Government.<br /><br />Catholics are called to heal the poor. Clever politicians desiring the Catholic bloc propose "universal health care!" and propose massive spending. The unwary Catholics are happy that The Government will now provide "health care" to all people. That this spending comes from the people who must pay or be fined is lost on lazy Catholics who go about their business content with promised health for the poor. The eventual message: people and churches can't be trusted to heal people in need -- healing is from The Government.<br /><br />"Health Care" has been used to fund artificial contraception and abortions -- all of which, I believe, have led directly to the widespread and overwhelming problems we see today.<br /><br />Communism erodes virtues because all people must be equal.<br /><br />The government is an active participant in lawsuits and legislation against Christianity and Catholicism, in particular.<br /><br />Communism has no need of religion. Is The Government leading people to The Government or helping lead people to the Churches?<br /><br />Anon2:<br />We are all called to love all people and God has given us all gifts -- hopefully we choose to use those gifts wisely, with great respect and humility. So, I'll rephrase: "Are the children and parents distressed that the music instructor made a choice or that the church made a choice?"<br /><br />Spectrography is a fascinating subject. In that case then, a hammer is just a hammer and a sickle is just a sickle -- tools used by many cultures for centuries. The sickle helps feed the workers who make the hammers that in turn make the sickles. The discussion of socialism vs. capitalism vs. communism vs. Christianity is ongoing and the use of imagery is common to all. I'm of the opinion that some imagery can be reminders to help focus and deepen thoughts.<br /><br />Other "developed" countries do have "universal health care". How are those countries spiritually? In what direction are they headed? Do they follow the footsteps of Christ or are they rotting inside?<br /><br />Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-3019451895615418312015-07-21T22:25:48.086-04:002015-07-21T22:25:48.086-04:00
Jan:
I hope you are right.
Given the way recent c...<br />Jan:<br />I hope you are right.<br />Given the way recent cases were decided by the Supreme Court however, it would seem there is no such thing as settled law. The cost of litigation in time and money being what it is today, it is imperative that schools such as Mount de Sales re-examine and correct any deficiencies in their hiring process and teacher contracts, in order to as much as possible, protect the school up front from any potential legal action down the road.<br /><br />Georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-42296360048471782492015-07-21T21:02:00.682-04:002015-07-21T21:02:00.682-04:00Paul:
The rainbow is a natural phenomenon (the vi...Paul:<br /><br />The rainbow is a natural phenomenon (the visible light spectrum) that does not belong to the Judaeo-Christian tradition alone. Isaac Newton created a version of it in his laboratory. It has special meaning for us because of the story of Noah. By contrast, my understanding is that the hammer and sickle symbol has only one meaning. Its sole purpose in the context of Obamacare, then, is to suggest that Obamacare is a communist type initiative or, perhaps more generally, that Obama is a closet communist. Like so many other symbols and labels it is intended to evoke an emotional response that impedes clear thinking. If you want to engage in the latter we would need to compare seriously the doctrines and practices of communism with the doctrines and practices of the Obama administration. Other countries in the developed world have universal health care. That does not make them Communist.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymous 2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-82908121006495117122015-07-21T20:51:22.345-04:002015-07-21T20:51:22.345-04:00Paul,
Let me supplement my previous post and also...Paul,<br /><br />Let me supplement my previous post and also address one other question you ask: “Why would someone work for a company whose "culture" they detest?”<br /><br />Perhaps looking at the matter negatively as working for an entity whose culture one detests is incorrect, or at best incomplete. The teacher in question, Flint Dollar, was a music teacher. I do not believe he was teaching any subjects that implicated Catholic teaching, although obviously I stand to be corrected on this point. My understanding is that he loves music and also genuinely cared about his students and developing their musical talents and appreciation. It is also my understanding that the students thought very highly of him. Perhaps this helps one to understand his motivations and values a bit better and why many parents and students were distressed that he had to leave. <br /><br /><br />Anonymous 2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-42641397363908182752015-07-21T20:00:51.225-04:002015-07-21T20:00:51.225-04:00Anonymous2:
“The teacher, Flint Dollar, taught mu...Anonymous2:<br /><br />“The teacher, Flint Dollar, taught music at Mount de Sales Academy for three years before his termination on May 21, 2014. The Telegraph reported that Dollar informed the school of his upcoming same-sex marriage when he signed the contract for the 2014-2015 term on May 1, 2014.”<br /><br />So the Telegraph reported that Mr Dollar informed the school of his impending same sex marriage when he signed the contract. If true, this is not unimportant. Does Mr Dollar have any corroboration on this? If not, then it should not be entered into any court proceedings. One possibility is that the court could rule that since Mr Dollar was not explicitly engaged in religious instruction, then it was wrong for the school to terminate his contract. I hope this does not happen. Another problem for a case such as this would be if another school in the diocese continued to retain a teacher in a similar circumstance. This would, one would think, be entered into the argument in favor of the plaintiff. This is why there should be a consistent policy in all diocesan schools. I'm hoping and praying the religious freedom argument wins the day.Georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-25478191506051794992015-07-21T19:35:34.974-04:002015-07-21T19:35:34.974-04:00There have been a number of cases of teachers suin...There have been a number of cases of teachers suing because of being sacked on grounds of sexual orientation. I have yet to see one case where they have been upheld. Can anyone point to one? I think the situation in Macon will be the same because of the ENDA religious exemption clause referred to above. <br /><br />" The U.S. Supreme Court set a national precedent in 2012, allowing religious schools to take sexual orientation into account in the hiring and firing of employees.<br /><br />“They could certainly file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but it’s unlikely they’ll prevail in a claim,” said Sarah Warbelow, legal director of the Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign.<br /><br />“Religious schools are going to have the ability to hire and fire teachers consistent with the school’s faith views," Warbelow told the Daily News."<br /><br />http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/gay-teachers-engaged-marry-risk-jobs-catholic-schools-article-1.2181110<br /><br />I am sure that there will be a push for a law change but as the employee suing the Catholic school in Macon is under present law I cannot see they would succeed as things stand.<br /><br />JanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-37154662025132070592015-07-21T18:06:47.276-04:002015-07-21T18:06:47.276-04:00Paul - If you think the hammer and sickle are appr...Paul - If you think the hammer and sickle are appropriate, what parts of the ACA do you find to be Communist?Fr. Michael J. Kavanaughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-85566411601265864612015-07-21T17:37:29.508-04:002015-07-21T17:37:29.508-04:00The government -- especially in its current form -...The government -- especially in its current form -- is adept at passing ideology with words that seem "right", "fair" and "affordable" all wrapped up in "for the poor". The details (politics?!?!) get lost in the cries of "Yay! We're helping!" and "Yay! We're equa!l". That's why we have a government and judicial system that, publicly, appears to be "helping" people while behind the scenes is actively undermining the foundation of The Catholic Church bit by bit -- and they're doing so by manipulating the children.<br /><br />Al Capone ran soup kitchens. I guess some people had problems with his politics.<br /><br />Knowing what it knows now would a Catholic parish hire Pres. Obama? Rep. Pelosi? Vice-Pres Biden? Even if they did, would the parish fire them on the basis of their public stances against Church teaching? I hope so.<br /><br />I believe, in this climate and perceived (intended?) direction of government that the use of the "hammer and sickle", while controversial, is appropriate for the debate.<br /><br />Any thoughts on the present use of the sign of God's covenant with Noah?Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-2418210776186996812015-07-21T16:35:46.244-04:002015-07-21T16:35:46.244-04:00Paul,
“I wonder how many of the school children a...Paul,<br /><br />“I wonder how many of the school children and their parents are happy that the teacher is now suing? What light is guiding them?”<br /><br />I repeat what I said in an earlier post a few weeks ago as the view of one parent: “The situation at Mount de Sales is most unfortunate. As a parent of a Mount de Sales student, a parishioner, and a member of the legal profession, I hate to see this development. I strongly suspect that it could and should have been avoided.”<br /><br />Contrary to popular perception lawyers do not necessarily relish litigation. They know that much depends on the specific facts of a case. The guiding principle should be to do what is in the client’s true best interests including the client’s interest in the larger community to which the client belongs. Discovering the client’s true best interests, which are not necessarily what the client initially thinks they are, sometimes requires helping the client in a discernment process. If a lawyer does not seek to serve the client’s true best interests, then he or she is just a “hired gun.” One relevant alleged fact appears in the article in the main post:<br /><br />“The teacher, Flint Dollar, taught music at Mount de Sales Academy for three years before his termination on May 21, 2014. The Telegraph reported that Dollar informed the school of his upcoming same-sex marriage when he signed the contract for the 2014-2015 term on May 1, 2014.”<br /><br />Of course, we are not privy to all the relevant facts that might contextualize this alleged fact, but it certainly appears highly significant.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Anonymous 2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-72862212382934650762015-07-21T13:25:56.616-04:002015-07-21T13:25:56.616-04:00Anon - Maybe you need to realize that you don'...Anon - Maybe you need to realize that you don't control Kavanaugh - or any other person who posts on this blog. You "demand" comments and then, when you don't get what you demand, you decide what the other person really think or believes.<br /><br />Convenient, that.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-75957364966517808992015-07-21T11:50:49.066-04:002015-07-21T11:50:49.066-04:00Paul - I suspect - no, in fact, I know - that the ...Paul - I suspect - no, in fact, I know - that the people who work in the USCCB's legal office have a far, far better grasp of the legal questions regarding the ACA than you or I. They are also not naïve - they know that they will have to deal with the politics of the Act.<br /><br />The ACA does fall under the Church's teaching on health care because it is a health care program. <br /><br />The Hammer and Sickle is a Communist symbol with origins that predate the Russian revolution. Using a Communist symbol in reference to the ACA is both misleading and inappropriate. Fr. Michael J. Kavanaughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-35914953706703336852015-07-21T11:30:42.754-04:002015-07-21T11:30:42.754-04:00Father Kavanaugh dodged the question of MDS and Fl...Father Kavanaugh dodged the question of MDS and Flint Dollar. Instead talking abaout a pic. What is his take on it? I haven't heard yet. He's gotta be against the MDS decision. His silence indicates that he does not want to reveal his true disagreement with the policy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-25788214397988130592015-07-21T10:12:38.419-04:002015-07-21T10:12:38.419-04:00No Fear Cavalier is just silly. The Sistine Chapel...No Fear Cavalier is just silly. The Sistine Chapel does not depict naked people engaging in oral or anal sex. Merely being without clothes does not a gay orgy make.<br /><br />It's amazing that so many people cannot see that "orientation" is not the same thing as "behavior". How do you not notice the distinction?<br /><br />Thus it's no contradiction or hypocrisy to offer employment to a person who happens to have strong FEELINGS in their mind but who don't act on those feelings - but fire the person should they act on those feelings.<br /><br />The normal heterosexual man who is strongly attracted and erotically aroused by women is expected to control his passions and not give in to lustful thoughts or behavior. If he commits a sin in that area he's expected - as a Christian - to ask for pardon and sincerely try to avoid occasions of sin in the future. A man with same sex attraction is likewise expected to not give into HIS erotic feelings.<br /><br />If a man has a strong Xenophobic feelings....don't we also expect him to resist these FEELINGS? To not act out on them in word or deed? Don't we expect him to work on these feelings to the point that he no longer has such strong negative feelings towards human beings of different ethnicities? Yes, yes we do.<br /><br />But could a Catholic parish or school hire someone who harbors such racist feelings provided they don't do anything in word or deed to draw attention to those feelings of theirs? Yes, I suppose we could. We're be hiring them despite not because of these feelings with the expectation that the adult human being could keep his feelings in check.<br /><br />As free human beings and ADULTS we are expected as a matter of course to be in control of our feelings, not controlled by them are we not?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jusadbellumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-49915128769453131652015-07-21T08:37:13.115-04:002015-07-21T08:37:13.115-04:00A high school is not a convent or a monastery; the...A high school is not a convent or a monastery; the hiring standards should not be the same. And hypocrisy and denial won't win many lawsuits.<br /><br />If a Catholic institution can't hire a practicing homosexual, then it's time to paint over the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.No Fear Cavaliernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-13515843628565646392015-07-21T05:22:16.180-04:002015-07-21T05:22:16.180-04:00To me this situation would be like someone from PE...To me this situation would be like someone from PETA working for a butcher.<br /><br />Why would someone work for a company whose "culture" they detest?<br /><br />For the money? To infiltrate in the hopes of converting or subverting the "company"? Desire for a "gotcha" moment in the (seemingly) prevailing winds for a big payout?<br /><br />I wonder how many of the school children and their parents are happy that the teacher is now suing?<br /><br />What light is guiding them?<br /><br />Hold fast Fr. McDonald. God bless you and prayers be with you.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-82051975031042210202015-07-21T03:04:59.783-04:002015-07-21T03:04:59.783-04:00A Catholic in a marriage not recognized by the Chu...A Catholic in a marriage not recognized by the Church or living in sin, and I am speaking of heterosexuals, have the possibility to correct the immorality either through a Catholic marriage or obtaining an annulment and being married in the Church. While their situation is immoral it isn't unnatural. Homosexuals in civil marriages cannot have their relationship moralized by the Chirch. Certainly though homosexuals are capable of chastity and celibacy for the sake of their salvation. In this case they could act as Catholic witnesses to an heroic virtue of chastity. Dollar on the other hand flaunts his desires, hates the Catholic Chirch's teaching on sexuality and marriage and exhibits it when challenged. He should have been fired. His lawsuit speaks volumes of his rejection of God and His Church in the area is sexuality and marriage and his anti-Catholic sentiments in this regard in light of the public nature of his unnatural marriage. Fr. Allan J. McDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-4607337716145360362015-07-21T03:03:44.269-04:002015-07-21T03:03:44.269-04:00I agree with Jusadbellum and Fr McDonald's com...I agree with Jusadbellum and Fr McDonald's comments. I don't know what the law is in the US but I did find this:<br /><br />"ENDA Religious Exemption - Fact Sheet<br /><br />The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) includes a broad exemption for religious organizations. ENDA’s religious exemption recognizes that the U.S. Constitution protects certain employment decisions of religious organizations and that some religious organizations may have a specific and significant religious reason to make employment decisions, even those that take an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity into account. It also acknowledges that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees of religious organizations should be aware that they could lose their jobs, even jobs that do not serve a clearly religious function, because of sexual orientation or gender identity.<br /><br />The exemption consists of three parts:<br /><br /> A complete exemption for houses of worship, parochial and similar religious schools, and missions<br /> A codification of the so-called “ministerial exemption” recognized by many federal courts, exempting positions at religious organizations that involve the teaching or spreading religion, religious governance, or the supervision of individuals engaged in these activities<br /> A provision allowing religious organizations, for classes of jobs, to require employees and applicants to conform to a declared set of significant religious tenets, including ones which would bar LGBT people from holding the position<br /><br />In the third section of the exemption, the declaration of an employer’s significant tenets is not subject to judicial review and is only applicable in proceedings under ENDA.<br /><br />In practice, this language continues to exempt many jobs with religious organizations. Under the first section of the exemption, for example, a priest or minister is clearly exempt, as well as the church secretary and the administrator of Sunday School programs. Under the second paragraph, the chaplain at a religiously-affiliated hospital and the teacher of canon law at a religious university are also exempt.<br /><br />Under the third part of the exemption, a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society may decide to apply its religious tenets to classes of employees. Although this provision gives, as most courts would give, deference to religious organizations in declaring significant religious tenets, it means that ENDA will apply to some positions but not others at these employers. For example, a religiously-affiliated hospital could choose to require all nurses to follow a declared set of significant religious tenets, including avoiding same-sex sexual activity, and be able to terminate a male nurse who they subsequently learn is in a relationship with another man. Similarly, a social services agency run by a religious sect could require its executive director to subscribe to a set of tenets that it declares significant, including one that bars LGBT people from holding the job, but choose not impose the same requirement on its social workers or other classes of employees"<br /><br />If that is correct then the school's decision is likely to be upheld.<br /><br />JanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-79008985818304207282015-07-20T22:58:38.369-04:002015-07-20T22:58:38.369-04:00With respect, I'm not sure I see the qualitati...With respect, I'm not sure I see the qualitative difference immorality that violates natural law and immorality that doesn't. The central issue isn't whether something violates natural law but whether it violates Catholic morality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com