Roncalli HS Stands By Asking Counselor To Resign

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — People across the Indianapolis area are sounding off on social media after a guidance counselor from Roncalli High School reported she was given three options by school officials after she claims administrators were told she is married to another woman. WRTV reported that in a Facebook post, Shelly Fitzgerald wrote she has had to "hide her 22-year relationship" with someone she loves and parents with, adding that "someone sought out" her marriage certificate from Hancock County and turned it into the Catholic school's chief administrator Joe Hollowell.

Hollowell then reportedly turned it over to the Archbishop of Indianapolis, the superintendent and Roncalli Principal Chuck Weisenbach.

In the post, Fitzgerald says she met with Hollowell and Weisenbach and was given the options to resign, "dissolve" her marriage, or, "wait it out and stay quiet and maybe I can make it the rest of the year, but they will not renew my contract next year 4," though she has no intention of quitting, divorcing her wife or not telling anyone why she has to leave.

Parents were reportedly notified that classes will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. Monday to hold a forum to discuss the issue.

There is also a Facebook page to support Fitzgerald, under the name Time to be a Rebel, highlighting support being shown inside and outside the school for the guidance counselor, including flowers, signs, t-shirts and more. The group's description reads, "Parent and community involvement to affect change for Archdiocesan contracts...save Ms. Fitzgerald!"

Roncalli High School posted a statement written Sunday to the school's Facebook page, which has been shared hundreds of times and commented on nearly 1,300 times as of Monday afternoon, saying:

"The Archdiocese of Indianapolis and Roncalli High School are aware that Ms. Shelly Fitzgerald, who is employed as a guidance counselor at the archdiocesan school, has made public a confidential personnel matter concerning her employment contract with Roncalli.

The leadership of Roncalli High School has been asked to reply to public concerns regarding Ms. Fitzgerald’s employment status. Ms. Fitzgerald is employed by the school. Roncalli does not discuss specific details of school personnel matters. Roncalli takes seriously its responsibility to treat all employees fairly and to not discuss their employment record in a public forum. All employees must be afforded the right to have their individual situations reviewed in a fair, professional and private manner."

Among the comments are those supporting Fitzgerald and then those supporting the school's actions. One Facebook user commented, "This is 100% why I left the church. You are teaching nothing but hatred and I’m SO disappointed that you want to continue that for future generations. I think school leadership are the ones who should be resigning from their positions & finding something better suited for their hatred. Shame on you. Love thy neighbor, unless their lifestyle opposes yours? I don’t think that’s what GOD is all about."

Another user responded to that comment, posting, "Ummm...there is a difference between loving people and disagreeing with people. You can love the sinner but not love the sin."

See the school's entire statement below:

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