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

PARAMUS, NJ — More than 3,000 alumni demanded Paramus Catholic stop promoting hatred, apologize to a dean for allegedly firing her because she is in a same-sex marriage, and adopt policies protecting employees and students from discrimination based on, among other things, gender identity.

Nearly 3,100 alumni have signed an open letter to the school's administrators, including President James P. Vail, 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."

The letter demands the school issue formal apologies to Drumgoole and the student body. The signees also demand the school adopt anti-discrimination policies based on gender identity and marriage status and "protect students from discrimination inside and outside the classroom."

The school should develop diversity workshops to train teachers, administrators, and students that "empower them to create a world that accommodates and builds on our diversities," the letter states.

A petition circulating online is demanding Paramus Catholic High School rehire its former dean of guidance who claims in a lawsuit she was fired because she is married to a woman.

Kate Drumgoole, claims in her lawsuit against Paramus Catholic High School, the Archdiocese of Newark, and the school's president that the firing was a violation of discrimination laws and was done to inflict emotional distress, NorthJersey.com reported.

The school claims Drumgoole violated the Roman Catholic tenant forbidding employees to enter into same-sex marriages.

The school became aware that Drumgoole is married to a woman after it received photos of her wedding from her wife's sister.

Superior Court Judge Lisa Perez Friscia denied a motion Monday by Paramus Catholic to throw out the lawusit, NorthJersey.com reported. She said in the report that the court should look into whether Drumgoole worked at the school in a ministerial capcity and determine if the dispute is ecclesiastrical or secular in nature.

Twenty-four people have signed a change.org petition demanding the school apologize and offer Drumgoogle her job back.

Darlene Shelton created the petition. In it, 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."

Shelton cites an alleged incident involving sexual abuse Drumgoole brought to school officials' attention. Two chaperones employed by Paramus Catholic, Shelton said, sexually abused three 17-year-old girls during a trip.

Shelton also claims Drumgoole "stopped numerous incidents of bullying" in school hallways.

"How can you allow other people choosing to live against the teachings of the Catholic faith and chastise Kate Drumgoole and say its not discrimination?" Shelton asks in the petition. "She seems like an asset like a person you want working for your school with good morals whose not afraid to stand up for what is right."

Paramus Catholic bills itself on providing an environment that fosters students having "respect for individual differences," the school's website states.

Courtney Champy, a commenter on the petition's webpage, urged the school not to take Drumgoole's job away and to "love thy neighbor."

Others were more harsh in their criticism.

"No one would want the kind of treatment Kate Drumgoole is experiencing from her former high school and employer," Stephanie Cook stated in a comment. "Not everyone who attends Paramus Catholic High School or works there leads an exactly Catholic lifestyle, that includes the people running it."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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

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