Las Vegas, Nev., Jun 1, 2006 / 22:00 pm
A Catholic high school in Las Vegas has fired a teacher for being in contradiction with the teaching of the Catholic Church, reported the Las Vegas Sun.
Jeff Crouse, a teacher of philosophy and film studies at Bishop Gorman High School for six years, declared his homosexuality on the popular website MySpace.com. Crouse posted on the website that he is a gay Catholic man, looking for "straight-acting single men." Crouse did not discuss his sexual orientation or the website at school, the newspaper reported.
According to Crouse, he was terminated May 12, as per his contract, for “maintaining, by word or action, a position contrary to the ordinary teaching of the Catholic Church,” reported the Las Vegas Sun. The contract is the same for all teachers in the board.
Diocesan and school officials declined to comment on the case, citing personnel confidentiality. However, Richard Facciolo, chancellor and superintendent of schools for the Las Vegas Diocese, says the Catholic Church expects teachers to serve as role models for students and to know, act and teach in accordance with church doctrine
Parents entrust their children to Catholic schools with the understanding that they are going to get teachers and a curriculum that reflects that Catholic faith, he said.
Bishop Gorman isn’t the only school to take such action. Catholic schools elsewhere in the country have also begun terminating teachers who do not live according to Church teaching.
A teacher in Milwaukee, for example, was fired in 2004 for getting pregnant through in-vitro fertilization. A football coach at a Massachusetts school was fired for getting his girlfriend pregnant. A young teacher in Brooklyn, N.Y., was fired for getting pregnant out of wedlock. And in October, a teacher in Sacramento was fired after officials learned she had previously volunteered at an abortion clinic.
According to the May 24 report in the Las Vegas Sun, Crouse did not say whether he plans to appeal his termination.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA