Molly Shumate has been a school teacher in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati system for more than ten years. She won’t be returning next year, though. Shumate refuses to sign a contract that prohibits any teacher from exhibiting “public support of homosexual lifestyle.” Her reason: it would be an insult to her gay son.
“In my eyes there is nothing wrong with my son,” Shumate told the Cincinnati Enquirer. This is what God gave me and what God created and someone I should never be asked to not support.”
“For me to sign this (contract), I feel like I would be telling my son I’ve changed my mind, that I don’t support him as I did. And I won’t do that,” Shumate said.
Zachary Schumate came out to his mom when he was a teenager. Now 22, Zachary says, “It’s hard to put into words how proud I am of her,” he said. “For her to step into the public eye like this and go against the (church) … because she has a gay son speaks volumes about the kind of person she is.”
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Catholic school teachers protesting the contract, saying it infringes on their free speech. About 100 teachers publicly protested last month, and thousands of people have signed petitions supporting them. Twelve billboards around the region challenge the Archdiocese stand on the contract.
The Archdiocese insists that the contract has nothing to do with family members. “While the Church’s stance on homosexual marriage is well known, this does not mean that our teachers will be asked to cast away loved family members,” said Catholic School Superintendent Jim Rigg.
No, just make sure you don’t publicly support them. How could anyone interpret that as casting them away?
Photo credit: Molly Shumate’s Facebook page
Dakotahgeo
I am proud of Molly and her son! The Catholic Hierarchy is so prejudiced and hateful, they don’t deserve to represent Jesus Christ or his church!
James Hart
When you work in a Catholic school, you already know that you have to support the Church’s teachings. Period. I don’t think that Ms. Shumate is very bright, considering she is a teacher. She created a false choice for herself. You can go on loving and supporting your son, but you can’t “publicly” support the gay lifestyle while on school time. If she were working in a Jewish or Muslim school, she would be fired if she started publicly telling her students: “You need Jesus to be saved.” I see no difference. THOUGHTFUL civil libertarians separate what the government can mandate for its citizens and what private employers can compel.
Dakotahgeo
@James Hart: You have provided the best ammunition as to why the Catholic church is a joke to all other Christians, and a gross embarrassment to the majority of Catholic church members! How are those child molestation cases going? Is that part of your church teaching also? Figgers!
Cam
So the Catholic church hates families. Ok got it.
kpj558
@James Hart: This referendum is unique to the Arch Diocese of Cincinnati. I have been in the Catholic school system my entire academic career and have never heard of any educator being made to sign a contract like this. To say that in order to be a Catholic school teacher you must sign away your right to express your opinions is simply untrue. Also, thoughtful civil libertarians is an oxymoron.
Cam
@kpj558:
You almost had us believing you….until you attacked people interested in civil liberties. Then you gave yourself away.
Mezaien
Enough of the D.E.K.C.U.F UP Catholic, church. How many time I have begged the Israeli, government to exterminate them all.
Alan down in Florida
Sounds like a clear violation of their First Amendment rights.
LubbockGayMale
@Alan, unfortunately, most employment is ‘at will’ meaning your constitutional rights can be trampled by a forced action like this. Throw in the religious aspect, and she is out of a job. Hopefully the archdiocese will re-think their position on this.
DuMaurier
@Cam: I kind of suspect kpj558’s comment confused political “libertarians” with “civil libertarians”, a very different creature; a civil libertarian is defined as: “One who is actively concerned with the protection of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the individual by law.”
I doubt kpj558 would actually takes issue with that. (Or maybe I’m being presumptuous, who knows)
loren_1955
Doesn’t say much for the Catholic church, or the Mormons or any other religious institution that makes a person choose between their family and their church/employment. Sounds kind of anti-family to me despite the rhetoric of being so pro-family.
Harley
Much like the Right to Life movement. They care only for the fetus. Once born they could give a shit. They want to force women to carry an unwanted, crisis pregnancy, then deny any benefits (food stamps) for that infant once born. I feels really sorry for all these unwanted children growing up unsupervised, finding a “family” on the streets (most likely a street gang). Yep. Good “Christian” values.
kpj558
@DuMaurier: You’re quite right. My mistake…learn something new everyday, I suppose.