Lesbian married to a woman dismissed from Philadelphia Catholic school — UPDATED

Last updated on: July 8, 2015 at 2:06 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

Lesbian married to a woman dismissed from Philadelphia Catholic school — UPDATED 2015-07-08T02:06:23-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

From Philly.com:

A religious education director at a Montgomery County Catholic school—Waldron Mercy Academy—has been dismissed because, parents say, she is lesbian wedded to a woman.

Many parents have voiced support for the educator, Margie Winters, director of religious education and outreach, calling her “inspirational” and “dedicated.” Now they’re directing their ire not at the school and its sponsor, the Sisters of Mercy, but at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Archbishop Charles Chaput.

“It’s time to get the attention of the Archdiocese and the Catholic hierarchy and let them know this is illegal,” said Katie Culver, who has three children at the school.

Parents and alumni will meet tonight to discuss the matter and “to unify in support of Margie,” Culver said.

Waldron Mercy’s principal, Nell Stetser, addressed Winters’ dismissal in a letter Friday to parents.

“[O]ur school recognizes the authority of the Archbishop of Philadelphia, especially in the teaching of religion, because we call ourselves Catholic,” she wrote.

Despite her “amazing contributions” to the school in Merion Station, the school opted not to renew Winters’ contract, Stetser wrote.

“Margie certainly has enriched the lives of everyone in the WMA family . . . however, my duty is to protect our school’s future,” Stetser wrote.

“In the Mercy spirit, many of us accept life choices that contradict current Church teachings, but to continue as a Catholic school Waldron Mercy must comply with those teachings,” she wrote.

Some parents are not buying it.

Read more.

UPDATE: My blog neighbor Jen Fitz has more and links to a Think Progress report that fleshes out some of the details—including underlining the news that the school reportedly knew about the teacher’s situation when it hired her.

Gay rights

Ripped from the headlines

Previous Post

July 7, 2015

Entire county clerk's staff resigns rather than issue same-sex marriage licenses

Next Post

July 8, 2015 An interesting lineup of deacons at this parish…

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the prophet after Moses?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Elijah Samuel Isaiah Joshua

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »