Archbishop Explains Decisions Regarding Gay Teachers At High Schools

Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson explained the archdiocese's stance on gay teachers at its schools Thursday.

Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson held a press conference to discus the archdiocese's decisions in recent decisions regarding the employment of gay teachers at two Indianapolis high schools. Photo via Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indianapolis’ archbishop says the church isn't looking to seek out and fire gay Catholic school teachers in the archdiocese.

But the church can’t ignore people who violate church teachings when such details about an employee’s personal life comes to light, Archbishop Charles C. Thompson said at a Thursday press conference held at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.

He defended the move to fire at least one gay, married teacher from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.  Last Sunday, the school announced the firing of the teacher as a necessary move to remain affiliated with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The teacher’s contract included a morality clause stating that the employee must abide by the church’s teachings.

The news came on the heels of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School refusing to fire a gay teacher, and separating from the archdiocese because of it on June 20. The archdiocese no longer considers the school Catholic.

The archbishop said that a person’s sexual orientation is not a sin. In regards to the schools, however, the issue “is about public witness of Church teaching on the dignity of marriage as one man and one woman. That is our Church teaching.”

Thompson said it's not a witch hunt and the archdiocese does not go looking for such situations.  But he said when cases are brought forward, the church will react.

“When they’re brought to my attention though, it is my responsibility, my duty to oversee the living of the faith, especially of all ministerial witnesses,” he said.

Thompson said he has family members and friends with same-sex attraction.

“So it’s as personal to me as it is to anyone. And they know I love them unconditionally. And they know I respect their dignity as a person,” he said.

Students and staff at Cathedral High School held a prayer vigil on Thursday in support of the fire teacher.

Thompson and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis began conversations with its five private, Catholic schools two years ago. Superintendent of Catholic Schools Gina Fleming said Cathedral and Brebeuf struggled with the question of what to do with gay staff members.

“It was through much prayerful discernment over the course of that two years, and really, much conversation on what it truly means to be ministers of the faith and how we would uphold that in our Catholic schools that led to the schools to make their own decisions as to whether they would wish to retain that Catholic identity,” Fleming said.

As far as students with same-sex attraction, Fleming said the archdiocese is holding conferenced for teachers and school leaders to ensure they understand what it means to walk beside these young people and to be there for them.

The archdiocese has published a frequently asked questions webpage about the situation at www.archindy.org/archbishop/press-2019-faq.html.

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis covers 38 counties, including those in southeastern Indiana. The archdiocese also oversees almost 70 schools.

RELATED STORIES:

Indianapolis Cathedral High School Fires Gay Teacher

Indianapolis Archdiocese Cuts Ties With Brebeuf Jesuit Prep Over Teacher