Catholic school accused of sacking teacher for not getting an abortion
A teacher is suing the Catholic school where she was formerly employed claiming it sacked her because she became pregnant before marriage.
Michelle Bolen worked at St Therese Catholic School in Kansas City, Missouri, for 15 years, but did not have her contract renewed for the 2015/16 year.
Her boss allegedly initially praised her for keeping the child, but later said an abortion would have avoided a “scandal” over having a pregnant unmarried teacher at the school, the Kansas City Star reported.
Ms Bolen’s lawyer argued her sacking was a breach of the 1986 Missouri Abortion Act, which says women who refuse to have an abortion can not lose their job.
The school however, says she was in breach of a contract that she signed, agreeing to “conduct myself in a manner that does not contradict her doctrinal and moral teachings”.
“As a teacher in a Catholic school, I am directly involved in the formation of youth in the name of the Catholic Church. In carrying out these solemn responsibilities as a teacher, I will conduct myself in a manner that does not contradict her doctrinal and moral teachings,” the contract reads.
“I understand, by entering into this contract, that I freely adhere to and shall carry out my responsibilities faithfully in accordance with the requirements of church law.”
‘Fornication is the problem’
Her pastor and boss, Father Joseph Cisetti, testified that he had commended Ms Bolen on the pregnancy, and denied that he tried coercing her to get an abortion.
“Pregnancy is not the problem. Fornication is,” Father Cisetti reportedly said.
The priest disagreed over her losing her job, and apparently told the principal he didn’t want to promote the idea that pregnancy is punished and abortion rewarded.
The case is currently being heard in the US and has seen some of Ms Bolen’s former colleagues speak unfavourably about her teaching style.
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