On September 27, 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a Statement of Interest supporting the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in its termination of a Catholic high school teacher because he was in a same-sex marriage.
As we have advised schools in the past, the archdiocese began requiring a morality clause in teacher, administrator and counselor contracts two years ago. In his lawsuit, Payne-Elliott says he never signed a contract with that language. But one may be curious as to “why” an LGBTQ teacher would WANT to work for a religious organization that has historically upheld that homosexuality as sin as is clearly stated in Holy Scripture.
“Religious liberty, which is a hallmark of the U.S. constitution and has been tested in the U.S. Supreme Court, acknowledges that religious organizations may define what conduct is acceptable and contrary to the teachings of its religion, for its school leaders, guidance counselors, teachers and other ministers of faith,” the archdiocese said after Payne-Elliott’s case was filed in July.