Archdiocese of Cincinnati expects its teachers to live like Catholics, even if they're not

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has expressly prohibited certain behavior in its teacher contracts, even for non-Catholic employees.

Educators are defined under the new guidelines as “teacher-ministers” and are forbidden from participating in or expressing support for same-sex marriage, out-of-wedlock sexual relationship, abortion, and some fertility treatments, reported WCPO-TV.

“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 surrogate mother, public support of or use of in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination, public membership in organization whose mission and message are incompatible with Catholic doctrine or morals, and/or flagrant deceit or dishonesty,” the new contract stipulates.

“Teacher-ministers” may be immediately terminated for violating these terms or for “any other good cause,” according to the contracts.

An archdiocese spokesman said teachers have been required to sign a moral clause for years, but the new contracts more specifically spells out their obligations.

“It’s become apparent to us that some teachers didn’t fully understand what that meant,” said archdiocese spokesman Dan Andriacco. “The new languages makes the clause more explicit by giving some examples of conduct that is unacceptable as being contrary to Catholic teaching. We think that’s fairer to the teachers and a help to them.”

The new language was added following the 2010 firing of computer instructor Christa Dias after she became pregnant through artificial insemination.

The non-Catholic won a $171,000 settlement last year against the archdiocese after she argued that she was unaware the fertility treatment violated church doctrine or her teacher contract.

Mike Moroski, an assistant principal at Purcell Marion High School, was fired last year after he argued on his personal website that LGBT people should be allowed to marry and refusing his employer’s demand to remove the post.

[Image: A Young Teacher Or Student Wearing Glasses Is In In Deep Thought While Standing In Front Of A Modern Pattern via Shutterstock]