FARGO (ND)
The Forum
By Dave Forster, The Forum
Published Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Six years after the Catholic Diocese of Fargo fired her, Melissa Enebo said she still feels embarrassed, insecure and constantly worried about losing her next job.
“Everyone wants to know what awful thing you did to get fired from a church,” she said Tuesday.
Enebo, 40, testified during the first day of her Cass County trial against the diocese. She claims the diocese discriminated against her because of her gender, pregnancy and marital status when it fired her in 1999 after she gave birth out of wedlock.
Benjamin Thomas, the attorney for the diocese, had only about 15 minutes to cross-examine Enebo Tuesday. But in that time, he made it clear that Enebo, a Lutheran, knew about the diocesan policy regarding behavior inconsistent with Catholic teaching.
The diocesan handbook says actions that can lead to firing include “conduct that is not harmonious with the teaching of the Catholic Church.” Enebo said one of her duties as a finance assistant was to make sure each new employee received that policy.