In principle, the Catholic Church’s social teaching includes strong support for workers’ rights, and protection from any form of injustice or unfair discrimination. Except, that is, where they are the employers, and the workers are LGBT. In such cases, the church insists on their own protection from the standard provisions of employment law.

Francis DeBenardo reports on one case where the judge clearly disagrees, which could have widespread implications for other cases around the US.

Fired Transgender Teacher Scores Points in Court Case 

2013 has been the year of the fired LGBT church worker.  We’ve been reporting  on the plight of these unjustly dismissed people since the beginning of the year, when we let you know about the story of Mark Krolikowski (as he was then identified), a transgender teacher who was fired after 32 years of employment at St. Francis Preparatory H.S. in Queens, N.Y.   Krolikowski, who now identifies as Marla Krolikowski, brought a legal case against the school.

The Huffington Post reported  that Krolikowski won a legal victory in court this week:

“On Monday, a judge reportedly rejected the school’s motion to have the case thrown out and strongly suggested that the opposing parties settle the lawsuit.”

Judge Duane Hart was skeptical that Krolikowski’s gender transition did not factor into her firing, and that the school fired her simply for insubordination, as they claimed:

” ‘Insubordination after 32 years of teaching? And the insubordination seems to coincide with the expression of being transgender?’ the case’s judge skeptically questioned. “

– continue reading at Bondings 2.0.