bonnie Posted August 26, 2015 Posted August 26, 2015 St. Mary's offered to pay for job candidate's silenceSchool pulls job offer over same-sex marriage7:41 a.m. PDT August 26, 2015 PORTLAND, Ore. -- A local Catholic school is caught in the middle of social media backlash after admitting it withdrew a job offer to someone because of a conflict involving Catholic teachings on same-sex marriage. And according to a newspaper report, the school offered a year’s salary and benefits to the job candidate in exchange for her silence about the situation. The Willamette Week reports the woman did not accept that offer. A letter about the rescinded job offer, written by school president Christina Friedhoff, went out to St. Mary's Academy alumni. The reaction has been fast and furious. It says the school withdrew the offer due to conflict with current Catholic teachings regarding same-sex marriage, but it doesn't go into any details about the job in question. St. Mary's Academy is grounded in the Catholic religion. Some alumni are upset and firing back on social media. One person wrote, "St Mary's has broken my heart with their decision. SMA taught me compassion, social justice, acceptance. Not today." Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman
B/W Photodude Posted August 26, 2015 Posted August 26, 2015 Doesn't matter what your "ism" is today, anyone can come up with a laundry list of violations of "social justice, compassion, and acceptance." Betcha even the one with the "broken heart" has some. Even the complaint is non-acceptance of someone else's beliefs and ethics. Not sure why people are not getting this. Quote >>>Texts in blue type are quotes<<< ***************************************************************************** And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. --Shakespeare from Hamlet ***************************************************************************** Bill Liversidge Seminars The Emergent Church and the Invasion of Spiritualism
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted August 26, 2015 Moderators Posted August 26, 2015 I have read the news articles. If they are accurate, l support the right of the school to withdraw the job offer. rudywoofs (Pam) 1 Quote Gregory
bonnie Posted August 26, 2015 Author Posted August 26, 2015 With the support the gay/lesbian community has they will eventually win this and more. Many members of all churches support gay marriage.Those that thought that gay marriage was the end of it and they could safely hold hands with them will now push and condemn those that would continue to say no. But then if gay marriage is right and just what possible reason would there be for saying no. I don't think be dealing with same,this could as easily have been our schools. Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman
bonnie Posted August 27, 2015 Author Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) 412comments St. Mary's reverses policy on gay employment after backlash over rescinded hire 1 / 11 Students added rainbow colored, heart-shaped glasses to a statue outside the school Wednesday. (Stuart Tomlinson/The Oregonian/OregonLive Stuart Tomlinson | The Oregonian/OregonLive By Melissa Binder | The Oregonian/OregonLive Update: This post has been updated with the latest information about reconciliation between the school and Lauren Brown. The St. Mary's Academy board voted Wednesday night to change the school's policy on hiring gay employees after facing backlash over the administration's decision to rescind a job offer to a gay counselor. Students and high-profile donor Tim Boyle, CEO of Columbia Sportswear, had earlier condemned the choice not to employ 27-year-old Lauren Brown. In response, administrators brought the board together and recommended members vote to expand the hiring policy. Administrators have filled the position they originally offered to Brown, academy President Christina Friedoff said, but will be reaching out to Brown and her attorney to discuss options for reconciliation. In July, the Roman Catholic high school reversed its plans to make Brown an academic adviser after learning she was gay, the job applicant said. Friedoff said the decision was made when Brown indicated she intends to get married. Brown's attorney said the 27-year-old had accepted the position in April and signed an employment contract. Friedoff said the position was offered in April and a contract was sent to Brown, but administrators never received a signed copy. Regardless of the precise reason or whether Brown had signed a contract, the decision not to hire her didn't sit well with students. St. Mary's families learned about the situation Tuesday night when the administration emailed parents. "I was confused, then I started to get angry," said Anna Lee, a 17-year-old senior. "There's an unspoken rule of acceptance. The teachers make us feel safe, and we can confide anything." About a dozen students showed up Wednesday morning to decorate a statue outside the school with rainbow heart glasses and a St. Mary's hoodie with "FREE TO BE ME" taped on the front. The teens said the decision didn't reflect the social justice values of St. Mary's. Online, opponents quickly adopted the hashtag#FightForSMA and organized protests via Facebook. The decision could have financial implications for the school. Major donor Tim Boyle, CEO of Columbia Sportswear, said in a statement that he and his wife are "extremely disappointed" and believe the decision should be reversed. "Recently, one of us participated in a successful public forum hosted by St. Mary's addressing how to prepare St. Mary's students for the work force of the future," Boyle said in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive. "The news this week is an example of how to not prepare students. There is no place in the workplace of today, or of the future, for discriminating against an individual based on sexual orientation." Archbishop's support Archbishop Alexander Sample, head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, said in the Catholic Sentinel he supports the school's actions: "We expect that given certain reassurances by the federal government in the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling making 'same-sex unions' the law of the land, our religious liberty would be protected in this case as well as any future cases of this sort." Mike McClory, an attorney who specializes in employment law at Bullard Law in Portland, spoke to The Oregonian about whether Oregon employers can legally discriminate against prospective employees based on sexual orientation. McClory said that generally a religious-based school can give a preference to a person of that religion and also would have a "ministerial exception" for anything that relates to instruction. The administration remained relatively tight-lipped throughout Wednesday. President Christina Friedhoff said Wednesday evening that leaders are "holding ongoing serious discussions." "As a community of compassion, our hearts are breaking today," she said. In a statement earlier in the day Wednesday, Friedhoff said: "St. Mary's nurtures the Catholic identity, practice, culture and mission on which we were founded. We understand that others may hold different values, and we respect the right of individuals in society to do so. At the same time, as a Catholic high school we are obligated to follow current Catholic teachings regarding same-sex marriage in our employment practices." The school's official Facebook page and Twitter account were suspended by 7 a.m. Wednesday. Edited August 27, 2015 by rudywoofs Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted August 27, 2015 Members Posted August 27, 2015 When Tim Boyle started making waves, and threatened to withdraw his financial support of the school, St Mary's folded like an old suit... Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
bonnie Posted August 27, 2015 Author Posted August 27, 2015 Regardless of the reason it does a great deal for the gay/lesbian communities to achieve their demands. Wonder what the SDA church will do when confronted with this situation as we surely will be Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman
Aliensanctuary Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Wonder what the SDA church will do when confronted with this situation as we surely will be Same thing, I suspect. The denomination will ultimately have to abide by federal law or else disband. Since there is too much money at stake, there will be gays and lesbians hired as employees of SDA churches and schools. As the younger population is influenced by the media, they will increasingly support gay employment everywhere. If the SDA denomination as we know it ceases to exist, it is not the end. There will be home churches with no employees or tithe income for the government to regulate. That's until home churches are banned... Quote The Parable of the Lamb and the Pigpen https://www.createspace.com/3401451
B/W Photodude Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 Same thing, I suspect. The denomination will ultimately have to abide by federal law or else disband. Since there is too much money at stake, there will be gays and lesbians hired as employees of SDA churches and schools. As the younger population is influenced by the media, they will increasingly support gay employment everywhere. If the SDA denomination as we know it ceases to exist, it is not the end. There will be home churches with no employees or tithe income for the government to regulate. That's until home churches are banned... You have not taken into account the potential for regime change at the next election cycle and the ability of the Congress to pass laws that will protect religious dissent, practice, and ethics from this tyranny. Of course, ability and will on the part of the Congress are two different things. You also have the possibility of change in the makeup of the Supreme Court being altered by a regime change. I suspect that much of the future in this is, what is the Pope going to do about it all. I think much of the direction will come from Rome, unfortunately. September will brings potentials for change we have not thought of! Quote >>>Texts in blue type are quotes<<< ***************************************************************************** And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. --Shakespeare from Hamlet ***************************************************************************** Bill Liversidge Seminars The Emergent Church and the Invasion of Spiritualism
bonnie Posted August 28, 2015 Author Posted August 28, 2015 On what grounds would the SDA church fight it? It seems as a denomination we are still in a holding pattern waiting for biblical scholars to determine if scripture really means what it says or is it just a cultural thing. Then there is that hate issue.Opposing this harmless gay marriage law is hate and being a self righteous hypocrite. We know from the often repeated woman caught in adultery that apparently Jesus didn't have any problem with sin. His condemnation was directed at those that were demanding she be stoned. Jesus did tell her not to do it again but that is usually left off the story. Wonder what the end of this story would have been had she accused Jesus of hate for telling her not to do it again? After all "adultery isn't catchy" "there are worse sins" "take the beam out of your eye before you worry about the speck in the eye of another". Especially since we don't even know what the biblical scholars will say as to what was actually meant. When push comes to shove wonder how many SDA's will push for hiring gays/lesbians,how many will pull support of our schools if we refuse? Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman
Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted August 28, 2015 Administrators Posted August 28, 2015 Same thing, I suspect. The denomination will ultimately have to abide by federal law or else disband. Since there is too much money at stake, there will be gays and lesbians hired as employees of SDA churches and schools. Very unlikely. Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
Outta Here Posted August 28, 2015 Posted August 28, 2015 There already are gays and lesbians hired as employees of SDA churches and schools. They're just not telling anyone they're homosexuals... Quote
bonnie Posted August 28, 2015 Author Posted August 28, 2015 (edited) There already are gays and lesbians hired as employees of SDA churches and schools. They're just not telling anyone they're homosexuals... I believe that is true. However what took place at St. Mary's is somewhat different. If it is not known there is little to be done. However knowing about it and agreeing to rewrite the rules to accommodate that which you believe to be wrong or be sued is quite another. They can also be terminated if it becomes known. Knowingly hiring a gay/lesbian it would be impossible to terminate. It the current climate I doubt there is to much that will prevent the gay/lesbian community having exactly what they want. A good portion of the SDA denomination does not seem to see a problem with gay marriage.At least the many SDA's I follow on facebook and locally. Same sang,same verse.It is no worse than so and so and they are a member and was married in the church. The belief that scripture is misunderstood and God really has not spoken out against a homosexual lifestyle is repeated other places besides C/A. With that in mind why would we even offer a token resistance? Something I don't understand. If it is wrong the denomination should stand their ground at all cost. But would we be willing to go to court if we are not even sure the bible means what it says? How can we put our uncertainty on others? Edited August 28, 2015 by bonnie Quote Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It's not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument, or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make, period ... ... Wish more people would realize this. Quotes by Susan Gottesman
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.