DignityUSA and Dayton Community Protest Teacher Firing Call for Contract Abolishment

May 13, 2020

Marianne Duddy-Burke (she/her)

In letters sent to the Archbishop of Cincinnati DignityUSA and the Living Beatitudes Community a ministry of Dignity/Dayton have strongly protested the decision to refuse contract renewal to a teacher who gave 23 years of exemplary service to a Catholic high school. A parent from the school presented a copy of the teacher's marriage certificate to the Archdiocese showing he was married to another man.<hr>May 11 2020Dennis M. Schnurr Archbishop Archdiocese of Cincinnati 100 East Eighth Street Cincinnati OH  45202 Dear Archbishop SchnurrWe are writing as officers and Board members of DignityUSA to express our organizations strong objections to the Archdiocesan directive to Archbishop Alter High Schools principal not to renew the contract of Mr. James Zimmerman whom you have recognized as a long-time and highly valued teacher. Your words of praise and pastoral concern ring false and disingenuous in light of the termination as they have when other bishops have fired valued and contributing members of Catholic institutions. Your statement reflects a total disregard for accepted science concerning sexual and gender identity and therefore stands as a direct contradiction to Gods creative work in this world. God does not make mistakes. Gods creation cannot be of itself a representation of evil or immorality.The non-renewal decision was made after someone sent a copy of Mr. Zimmermans marriage certificate to the chancery as a demonstration that he was violating the terms of his contract as an Archdiocesan employee. This malicious action against another human being should have been a cause for censure of the reporter not a catalyst for the dismissal of someone students and parents credit as a strong positive influence.Catholics in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and far beyond clearly understand that this contract and resultant terminations of hard-working valued employees are inconsistent with the core values of our faith. They are discriminatory unjust and reflect an outdated and false understanding of human identity. Mr. Zimmermans termination continues a pattern of denial of peoples humanity as God has made them.In recent decades Catholics have come to understand that sexuality and gender differences abound in humanity that LGBTQI people can be just as true to our faith as others and that holiness can radiate from the lives and loving of LGBTQI people. As has been made clear by the outpouring of support for Mr. Zimmerman and testimony about how he has instilled deep moral values in his students Catholics have learned to judge people by their actions not their identities. Clearly a strong majority of the students parents alumni and staff of Alter High School disagree with the dogma you cite as justifying this decision and with the punitive conditions contained in the contract that teachers must sign. The wisdom of these Catholics must be heard and respected.It is patently unjust that anonymous complaints about gay and lesbian people exercising their civil right to marry the person they love has resulted in the termination of employment for dozens of people in recent years. Over 80 such situations have been publicly reported and we are aware of at least twice that number many of whom contacted us for assistance but wanted their situations to remain confidential due to concerns about children family relationships or fear going public would make obtaining another job more difficult. Our church which has a proud history of asserting workers human rights is now perverting that tradition based on a narrow definition of morality rejected by most Catholics. Whether the expectations of dogmatic conformity are embedded in contract language or just assumed as a condition of employment they violate the fundamental human rights of the people employed in our institutions.This contract also places pastors and DignityUSAistrators such as Mrs. Lambert in the horrific position of knowing that many employees are violating the contract as every recent survey of Catholics demonstrates significant differences between their beliefs and behavior and official teaching. These leaders are left hoping no one will make an issue of this fact leading to frustration and insecurity. The contract forced upon Archdiocesan staff must be done away with. As the termination of Mr. Zimmerman and several prior situations demonstrate its implementation leads to pain division and a perversion of true Catholic values. We call for the immediate suspension of the contract re-employment of anyone terminated or threatened under its terms and good faith negotiations with employees families and representatives of the Catholic community to establish conditions for a new more just agreement between the Archdiocese and its employees. We firmly believe that LGBTQI people deserve justice equality and full inclusion in all aspects of our church and society including the ability to serve as teachers staff and DignityUSAistrators in Catholic schools. Our institutions employment policies and practices must be changed to achieve this. Failure to do so will undermine our collective ability to shine the Gospel light where it is needed.Sincerely                                                                                    Christopher Pett President    Meli Barber Vice PresidentRobert Butts Secretary (Kettering OH)*                Patricia Stricker Board Member (Germantown OH)** Archdiocese of Cincinnati<hr>May 10 2020 Reverend Dennis Schnurr Archbishop Archdiocese of Cincinnati 100 East Eighth St. Cincinnati OH 45202 Dear Archbishop Schnurr As the Board President of the Living Beatitudes Community in Dayton a eucharistic ministry of DignityDayton and a Federation of Christian Ministries Community I am writing to voice our community's strong opposition to the decision of the Archdiocese to non-renew the contract of a 23-year English teacher at Archbishop Alter High School. In a letter to the Alter Community posted on social media you referred to this person as a highly valued teacher. It is our understanding that he was not renewed as a result of a breach of contract. According to multiple public posts on social media this action actually came about because someone sent a copy of his marriage certificate to the Archdiocese indicating he had married his male partner. We are aware that just recently Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Binzer submitted his resignation to the Vatican. His refusal to fulfill his responsibility has harmed children. He continues to function and keep his retirement. In contrast Mr. Zimmerman supported and instilled character in his students as a great educator does yet he was removed. His teaching career with the Catholic Schools is derailed. The Auxiliary Bishop refused 6 times to report allegations of sexual abuse and he continues to have his employment We ask that the Archdiocese take a strong lead to work actively for reform within the Catholic Church in particular for the full inclusion of women and LGBTQ+ Catholics who are ready and willing to serve. Over time rules have changed in the Church and it is time for some serious review of current practices in order to implement a more just and Christ-centered approach in our faith communities. A true effort at reforming the church will go a long way in helping today's young people find a spiritual home. If things do not change it is likely that other Catholic schools will lose highly valued teachers priests and mentors leaving a terrible void for the young people in our communities. We ask that you reconsider your decision regarding Mr. Zimmerman and offer to renew his contract so the Alter High School community may begin to heal. We prayerfully ask for your serious consideration of our request. Respectfully James W. Baker Board President Living Beatitudes Community 20 W. First St. Dayton OH 45402

DignityUSA and Dayton Community Protest Teacher Firing Call for Contract Abolishment

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