A Catholic school in Indiana will reportedly terminate the employment of a gay gym teacher to avoid losing its 'Catholic identity', the New York Post reports.
In an open letter to its 'Catholic family' describing their "agonising decision", Cathedral High School in Indianapolis said that they wanted to avoid being stripped of their Catholic identity - a week after a school suffered that very fate for refusing to fire one of their gay teachers.
"It is Archbishop Thompson’s responsibility to oversee faith and morals as related to Catholic identity within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis," said the letter, signed by Chairman Matt Cohoat and President Rob Bridges from the school board.
"Archbishop Thompson made it clear that Cathedral’s continued employment of a teacher in a public, same-sex marriage would result in our forfeiting our Catholic identity due to our employment of an individual living in contradiction to Catholic teaching on marriage."
While the employee in question was not named in the letter, Cathedral High School did explain: "Our Catholic faith is at the core of who we are and what we teach at Cathedral."
"Therefore, in order to remain a Catholic Holy Cross School, Cathedral must follow the direct guidance given to us by Archbishop Thompson and separate from the teacher. In today’s climate, we know that being Catholic can be challenging and we hope that this action does not dishearten you, and, most especially, dishearten Cathedral’s young people.
"We know that some individuals do not agree with every teaching of the Catholic Church and so their conscience struggles between the teaching and what they believe is right. We want you to know that we respect an individual’s conflict between teaching and their conscience."
The letter finished by offering "prayers and love to this teacher, our students and faculty, our Archbishop, and all associated with Cathedral", before asking for "respectful" dialogue over Cathedral High School's decision.
Both current and former students have taken to Instagram to comment on posts on the official Cathedral High School page.
"Makes me sick I went to this school," one user commented on a recent post on the school’s official Instagram. "That teacher was one of the kindest men I have ever met. You won’t be getting a dime from my family."
"Cathedral, you disappoint Our Lady!," another user commented. "Praying for your leadership."
