Catholic
school teacher fired for gay wedding
School said his obtaining a license to marry his same-sex
partner was a violation of his contract
PHILADELPHIA — A gay teacher at a Catholic high school was
fired Friday after he applied for a marriage license.
Michael Griffin was fired from Holy Ghost Preparatory School
after administrators said his obtaining a license to marry his same-sex partner
was a violation of his contract.
Father James McCloskey, the school's headmaster, said in a
statement that faculty at the school are required to follow church teachings,
NBC Philadelphia reported.
He said in the statement that Griffin's decision
"contradicts the terms of his teaching contract at our school, which requires
all faculty and staff to follow the teachings of the Church as a condition of
their employment. In discussion with Mr. Griffin, he acknowledged that he was
aware of this provision, yet he said that he intended to go ahead with the
ceremony."
Griffin, who graduated from the school and has taught French and
Spanish there for 12 years, said that his relationship with his partner of 12
years wasn't a secret from the school and that his partner had even been to
McCloskey's house.
Griffin lives in New Jersey, which became the
14th state to recognize same-sex marriage in October.
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