The superintendent for a Roman Catholic Diocese has declined to reinstate a gay teacher who is challenging her firing by a Catholic school.
Lucia McQuaide, the diocese's Superintendent of Education, informed Carla Hale in a June 6 letter that her decision follows her consideration "of all of the facts and circumstances." Hale's attorney Thomas Tootle says the next step is a request to the diocese for binding arbitration. Hale has also filed a discrimination complaint with the city of Columbus. Hale says she was fired from Bishop Watterson High School after her partner's name was revealed in her mother's published obituary. Bishop Frederick Campbell says Hale was fired because she violated the church's moral teaching by having what he describes as a "quasi-spousal relationship" with a woman.