Archdiocese revises teacher contract, specifies unacceptable conduct

March 19, 2014

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s new annual contract for teachers lists examples of “conduct or lifestyle which would reflect discredit on or cause scandal to the school or be in contradiction to Catholic doctrine or morals,” according to a Cincinnati Enquirer report.

The new contract wording comes nine months after an Ohio jury found that the archdiocese illegally discriminated against a woman who was dismissed from her post as a teacher after she conceived a child using in vitro fertilization.

“We regard all of our teachers-- not just religion teachers-- as ministerial employees, even if they are not Catholic,” said archdiocesan spokesman Dan Andriacco. “Our contract for many years has reflected that by including a moral conduct clause. Last year we made that clause more explicit by mentioning the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and this year we’ve added examples of unacceptable behaviors.”

The new contract states:

Such conduct or lifestyle that is in contradiction to Catholic doctrine or morals includes, but is not limited to, improper use of social media/communication, public support of or publicly living together outside marriage, public support of or sexual activity out of wedlock, public support of or homosexual lifestyle, public support of or use of abortion, public support of or use of a surrogate mother, public support of or use of in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination, public membership in organizations whose mission and message are incompatible with Catholic doctrine or morals, and/or flagrant deceit or dishonesty.

 

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Further information:

• Catholic teacher contract specifies banned practices (Cincinnati Enquirer)
• Ohio teacher wins suit against archdiocese after being dismissed for in vitro pregnancy (CWN, 6/3/13)