Paramus Catholic School Had The Right To Fire Gay Guidance Counselor, Archbishop Says

PARAMUS, N.J. — The Archdiocese of Newark was within its right to "take appropriate action" and fire a well-respected guidance counselor, coach and alumnus from Paramus Catholic High School because she is married to a woman, Archbishop of Newark Rev. John J. Myers said in a statement Wednesday.

Dean of Guidance Kate Drumgoole was terminated from her position because, she claims, the school found out that she is married to a woman. She filed the lawsuit against Paramus Catholic, the Archdiocese of Newark and the school's president. She claims the firing was a violation of discrimination laws and was done to inflict emotional distress. The school unsuccessfully tried to have the lawsuit thrown out of court.

Every person who is involved in Catholic education must sign a Ministerial Agreement and a Code of Conduct to "promote and foster authentic Catholic beliefs and practices — even if they themselves are not Catholic."

"The invitation to join in the life of the Church does not include an invitation to alter or redefine what the Church believes and teaches, nor is it an invitation to allow others to define the identity, mission and message of the Church," Meyers said.

Marriage in the Catholic faith is "between a man and a woman," and same-sex marriage runs counter to Catholic teachings, Meyers said.

"When someone involved in Catholic education ministry offers a public counter-witness to Catholic teaching, he or she does not teach the Truth or further the mission of the Church," Meyers said. Such a thing "can create confusion and uncertainty in the moral formation of the young people he or she encounters," Meyers said. "When that happens, the Church must be free to take corrective steps to maintain the identity and the integrity of her mission."

That right is protected by the Constitution and federal and state law, Meyers said.

The school reportedly found out about Drumgoole's marriage when her wife's sister sent photos of the couple's wedding to several Facebook pages, including the school's.

Nearly 4,000 alumni, from every graduating class in the school's 50-year history, have signed an open letter to the school's administrators, demanding the school apologize for firing Drumgoole.

"By your decision, you perpetuate misinformed hate against individuals on the basis of their gender and sexuality," the letter states. "From your position of power and privilege, you deny lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students a psychologically safe learning environment."

The letter also demands the school adopt anti-discrimination policies based on gender identity and marriage status and develop diversity workshop to train teachers and administrators.

More than 400 people have signed a change.org petition demanding the school apologize and offer Drumgoogle her job back.

Darlene Shelton created the petition. She claims the school employs people who "are divorced or have kids out of wedlock" and even claims there are teachers "having sex with students."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Related: Former Paramus Catholic Guidance Counselor Sues School Over Alleged Same-Sex Marriage Firing

Related: Thousands Demand Paramus Catholic Apologize After Dean's Firing In Same-Sex Marriage Case

Photo by Pete, public domain