Several teachers in Cincinnati, Ohio
have refused to sign a contract banning support for gays.
Part of the Cincinnati Archdiocese's
teacher contract prohibits “public support of or homosexual
lifestyle.”
According to NBC
affiliate WLWT, a lay Catholic group has launched a billboard
campaign to protest the contract's expanded morality clause.
Twelve billboards scattered throughout
the community ask, “Would Pope Francis sign the new Catholic
teacher contract?”
Roughly 14 months ago, the Archdiocese
of Cincinnati removed an assistant principal for expressing his
support for marriage equality.
Mike Moroski wrote in a January 27,
2013 post that he believes “that gay people SHOULD be allowed to
marry.”
“Ethically, morally and legally I
believe this. I spend a lot of my life trying to live as a Christian
example of love for others, and my formation at Catholic grade
school, high school, 3 Catholic Universities and employment at 2
Catholic high schools has informed my conscience to believe that gay
marriage is NOT something of which to be afraid,” Moroski wrote.
Two teachers told WLWT that they would
not sign the new contract.
The Cincinnati Archdiocese, however,
said Monday that it was standing by its decision.
“The archbishop [Dennis M. Schnurr]
does not believe that any further meeting regarding the
teacher-minister contract is warranted,” director of Human
Resources Robert Reid said.