Miami teacher claims she was fired from Catholic school for marrying her girlfriend
'In their eyes I’m not the right kind of Catholic for my choice in partner,' Jocelyn Morffi writes
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Your support makes all the difference.An elementary school teacher in Miami says the Catholic school where she used to teach has fired her for marrying her girlfriend.
Jocelyn Morffi had been teaching at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic School for almost seven years before the school let her go, in what it called “a difficult and necessary decision” in a letter sent home to parents. While the school did not expand on its reasons for firing Ms Morffi, the teacher claims she was fired for being gay.
“This weekend I married the love of my life and unfortunately I was terminated from my job as a result,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “In their eyes I’m not the right kind of Catholic for my choice in partner.”
Friends of Ms Morffi told the Miami Herald that the teacher was pulled into the principal's office the week after her wedding and told she had to resign. When she refused, the school fired her.
Archdiocese of Miami spokeswoman Mary Ross Agosta told the Herald that Ms Moriffi had been fired for breaking her contract, but would not elaborate on the reasoning.
“As a teacher in a Catholic school their responsibility is partly for the spiritual growth of the children,” Ms Agosta said.
She continued: “One has to understand that in any corporation, institution or organisation there are policies and procedures and teachings and traditions that are adhered to. If something along the way does not continue to stay within that contract, then we have no other choice.”
Sts Peter and Paul Catholic School did not respond to a request for comment.
The firing sparked outcry from many parents, who claimed Ms Morffi was one of the most celebrated teachers at the school. Approximately 20 of them turned up at the school last week to demand answers.
"This teacher in particular has made such a contribution to the school,” parent Samantha Mills told the Herald. “She never imposes her personal beliefs on others. She just does everything in love. She has a way of teaching that is so amazing."
While teaching at Sts Peter and Paul, Ms Morffi started a project she called #TeachHope, which organised students to make sandwiches for homeless Miami residents. On a website for the project, Ms Morffi said she wanted to show here students that “there is hope for a better future if we all get involved and do our part”.
It seems Ms Moriffi will be continuing with the project. In an Instagram post four days after her firing, she announced that #TeachHope would be having a sandwich-making “marathon,” and accepting donations in a local park.
In a comment accompanying the post, she added: “THANK YOU for all the love and support.”
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