VENICE (FL)
News-Press
[Read the decision by the Agency for Workforce Innovation reinstating Wilson’s unemployment (pdf)]
[Read fired teacher Chris Wilson’s lawsuit (pdf)]
[The report filed by Fort Myers Police (pdf)]
[Read the Diocese response to the Wilson appeal]
[Read the Supreme Court January decision upholding “ministerial exception” (pdf)]
[Read the letter sent by a church member to Bishop Dewane complaining about Wilson’s firing and bishop’s response (pdf)]
[Read the letter from canon lawyer Thomas Doyle to Bishop Dewane regarding Rev. Cory Mayer (pdf)]
Written by
Mary Wozniak
A lawsuit filed by a former Bishop Verot Catholic High School teacher, saying he was fired almost a year ago for reporting claims a priest asked inappropriate sexual questions of female students, could wind up testing a recent landmark religious ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In the lawsuit, former theology teacher Chris Wilson says he blew the whistle on the Rev. Cory Mayer, claiming the priest asked at least five teenage girls during confessions held at school whether they had sex or masturbated. When one girl balked, saying it was none of the priest’s business, Mayer reportedly said he would deny absolution for her sins unless she answered.
The Diocese of Venice says Mayer did nothing wrong. Bishop Frank Dewane, head of the diocese, said in a letter to a church member who complained about Wilson’s firing that some students felt “uncomfortable” with Mayer’s questions, but none reported feeling anything “inappropriate” happened. The priest never was charged with a crime, and Wilson was fired for what the diocese called “unprofessional behavior.”
“Mr. Wilson is a disgruntled former employee who was fired from Bishop Verot High School after demonstrating a history of unprofessional behavior which was officially documented,” Billy Atwell, diocese spokesman, wrote in emailed answers to questions from The News-Press. “After not being selected to be principal of the school, his frustration with school administration rose to the point that he yelled and screamed at the principal in front of other faculty and within earshot and view of students — totally unprofessional behavior.”
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