Archdiocese of Cincinnati Expands Morals Clause in Teacher Contracts

WLWT
March 7, 2014

http://www.wlwt.com/news/archdiocese-of-cincinnati-expands-moral-clause-in-teacher-contracts/24846662

[with video]

Catholic school teachers in the Cincinnati Archdiocese will soon see a much more detailed morality clause in their new contracts.

WLWT News 5 obtained a copy of the revised language on Thursday.

At the top, it reads "Teacher-Minister" and the morals clause has grown from a line or two to an entire paragraph.

The new contract clearly spells out to teachers that they must refrain from any conduct or lifestyle that contradicts Catholic doctrine or morals.

The language reads, "Such conduct or lifestyle that is in contradiction to Catholic doctrine or morals includes, but is not limited to, improper use of social media/communication, public support of or publicly living together outside marriage, public support of or sexual activity out of wedlock, public support of or homosexual lifestyle, public support of or use of abortion, public support of or use of a surrogate mother, public support of or use of in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination, public membership in organizations whose mission and message are incompatible with Catholic doctrine or morals, and/or flagrant deceit or dishonesty."

Teachers will be required to initial that section to indicate agreement and sign their name or risk possible termination.

The archdiocese said this is meant to clear up any confusion about what’s expected and what Catholic doctrine accepts and rejects.

"We found that a number of our teachers weren't really clear on what would be outside of Catholic teaching," Dan Andriacco, spokesman for the Cincinnati Archdiocese said. "So, we consider this to be a favor to them, it's fairer to them."

The change comes as dioceses all over the country reevaluate teacher contracts in light of lawsuits by employees who have been fired for violating morality clauses.

Mike Moroski is a former English teacher who lost his job at Purcell Marian High School after posting his support of same-sex marriage on his blog.

"The archdiocese of Cincinnati has very clearly drawn a line in the sand with this, very clearly," Moroski said.

Moroski said he fears a lot of top talent in the Catholic school system might decide to leave rather than agree to the more explicit terms in the morals clause.

"People that are going to be hurt are the students at the end of the day. A lot of the teachers that I'm thinking of that are homosexual or that are living with someone of the opposite sex that are working in the schools now, they're some of the best teachers in the city and if they have the ability to leave, I don't see how they can sign that," Moroski said.

Teachers at Catholic schools like Purcell-Marian were alerted to the changes Thursday.

The archdiocese told WLWT that its research and listening sessions with families from two years ago shows many parents want a strong Catholic identity.

"If some people find that they can't sign the contract in good conscience, we certainly respect the decision not to be a teacher in one of our schools," Andriacco said.

He noted that there has been a morality clause in the contracts for years.

This one, he acknowledged, is more explicit.

It also requires a teacher to initial a section that reiterates the litany of actions in contradiction to Catholic doctrine.

Right before the signature line, there is a sentence stating, "No demand may be made for remuneration after this contract is terminated by either party."