Local News: Cincinnati, Ohio Catholic School Forces Morality Contract, List of 'Do-Nots' on Teachers
A revised contract agreement that teachers at a Catholic school in Cincinnati are required to sign in order to continue teaching has several staff members outraged.
The contract outlines several "do nots" that teachers are to steer clear of, such as living together, having sex outside of marriage, using in-vitro fertilization, living a gay "lifestyle" or publicly supporting those things, CNN reported. The school currently employs 2,200 teachers who must sign the contract if they wish to keep their job.
Robert Hague, however, who has taught English for 50 years, said he's leaving the job over the contract.
"It is an embarrassment and a scandal and will drive even more Catholics away from an institution so out of touch with its times," Hague said, adding that he's opposed to "the language, the intent and the tone of this contract."
According to CNN, the contract enforces all the teachers, whether they are Catholic or not, to follow the new set of rules. Under the contract, all teachers now get the title of "ministers," which is seen as a legal ploy against discrimination lawsuits.
Back in March, Cincinnati Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Rigg wrote in an op-ed piece for the Cincinnati Enquirer. In the article, he stated that the revised contract didn't include new rules and only explains "in abundantly clear language, some of the principles of the Catholic Church."
Roger Rosen, a French and Latin teacher, spoke with CNN about the matter and said he was ashamed to have signed the contract. He admitted that he signed the agreement so he could continue to financially support his family.
"I'm a coward. Isn't that terrible?" Rosen said. "Jesus always acted out of love. Never out of fear, and we're all being asked to act out of fear because the lawyers have taken over."