A teacher at a Catholic high school in suburban Philadelphia needs a new job after being fired Friday for applying for a marriage license with his same-sex partner in New Jersey. teacher Michael Griffin was fired from his position at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem on Friday after applying for a marriage license in New Jersey with his partner, a move that the school says “contradicts the terms of his teaching contract.”
Michael Griffin, an alumnus of Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem, has been teaching Spanish and French there for the last 12 years, reported NBC Philadelphia. The private, all boys liberal arts Catholic high school, made a statement in a letter online about Griffin's termination Sunday afternoon.
"At a meeting in my office yesterday (December 6th), teacher Michael Griffin made clear that he intends to obtain a license to marry his same sex partner," wrote Fr. James McCloskey, the school's president. "Unfortunately, this decision contradicts the terms of his teaching contract at our school, which requires all faculty and staff to follow the teachings of the Church as a condition of their employment. In discussion with Mr. Griffin, he acknowledged that he was aware of this provision in his contract, yet he said that he intended to go ahead with the ceremony. Regretfully, we informed Mr. Griffin that we have no choice but to terminate his contract effective immediately."
Griffin said that his sexual orientation and his relationship with his partner had been no secret to the school. He took to Facebook on Friday to express a sense of betrayal.
“Today I applied for a marriage license since NJ now has marriage equality,” Griffin wrote. “After 12 years together I was excited to finally be able to marry my partner. Because of that, I was fired from Holy Ghost Preparatory School today. I am an alumnus of the school and have taught there for 12 years. I feel hurt, saddened, betrayed and except for this post, am at a loss for words.”
