Pope Francis I holds no sway over the head of the Holy Ghost Preparatory School. While the Roman Catholic pontiff may have asked, “Who am I to judge?,” Rev. James McCloskey has answered: nobody.
President McClosky on Friday learned that Michael Griffin, a veteran teacher of more than a dozen years, was getting a marriage license. Fr. McClosky knew very well whom Griffin was going to marry, as the couple had attended school functions together and even visited the Father’s home.
UPDATE: Gay Catholic School Teacher ‘Blindsided’ By Being Fired For Getting A Marriage License
While Holy Ghost Prep is in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Griffin merely had crossed the border into New Jersey to access the same rights that his heterosexual peers were born with.
“Today I applied for a marriage license since NJ now has marriage equality,” Griffin, on Friday, wrote on his Facebook page. “After 12 years together I was excited to finally be able to marry my partner. Because of that, I was fired from Holy Ghost Preparatory School today. I am an alumnus of the school and have taught there for 12 years. I feel hurt, saddened, betrayed and except for this post, am at a loss for words.”
Yes, it’s safe to say Griffin has devoted the majority of his life to the Holy Ghost Preparatory School. In return, they sacked him.
On Saturday, Griffin added that his “heart aches over everything that has happened,” but amazingly, he’s not bitter.
“Holy Ghost helped form me to be the person that I am today. Even though I am no longer employed there, I wanted to share their mission and philosophy, because I feel like I have tried to make it my life’s philosophy as best I can, even now. I am trying to move forward with a peaceful heart and wish nothing but the best to my colleagues and students who mean the world to me.”
The press picked up the story, forcing Fr. McClosky to respond — blaming Griffin for wanting to marry.
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,” McClosky writes. “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. Regretfully, we informed Mr. Griffin that we have no choice but to terminate his contract effective immediately.â€
Griffin’s bio on the school’s website reads:
“This is my 14th year teaching and my 13th year at Holy Ghost. I graduated from Holy Ghost in 1996. I received a B.A. in French and Spanish at Marywood University and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from TCNJ. In addtion to teaching, I am the internal coordinator for our Middle States accreditation process as well as the moderator of CAFE and I also coordinate trips abroad every summer.”
That code of conduct?
It reads:
“That, although, the School welcomes teachers from other denominations and recognizes their rights to religious freedom, as employees of a Catholic institution, all teachers are expected to uphold lifestyles compatible with the moral teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.”
Will the school start firing teachers who use birth control — including condoms? What about those who have abortions?
It seems the school has some reflection of its own to do.
Image of Michael Griffin via his Facebook page