Hundreds More Sign Petitions Supporting Paramus Catholic Guidance Counselor, Lawsuit Not Dismissed

Support continues to pour in for a fired Paramus Catholic guidance counselor who is suing Paramus Catholic High School, because, she claims, she was fired because she is in a same-sex marriage.

Superior Court Judge Lisa Perez Friscia issued the decision regarding the lawsuit Kate Drumgoole, the former dean of guidance and girls basketball coach, filed against at the Archdiocese of Newark, the school, and its president, James P. Vail.

Friscia said that "further discovery is warranted," regarding the lawsuit. She said it should be looked at whether Drumgoole worked in a ministerial capacity at the school.

RELATED: Read the full opinion

The defendants maintained that Drumgoole that the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination permits them "the freedom to require that their employees" abide by the tenants of the Catholic religion and that "same-sex marriage violates Catholic religiou tenants." In this case, Drumgoole allegedly violated the tenet forbidding employees to enter into same-sex marriages.

Drumgoole is a Paramus Catholic alumnus and played on the Lady Paladins basketball team. She was the director of guidance and then the dean of guidance last year. She was named head coach of the girl's basketball team last year, NorthJersey.com reported.

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

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.

Friscia denied a motion in August by Paramus Catholic to throw out the lawsuit.

Nearly 4,200 alumni have signed an open letter to the school's administrators, demanding the school apologize to former Dean of Guidance Kate Drumgoole for allegedly firing her because she is married to a woman.

"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."

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

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

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