Did anyone else see this?

lady_chance_99

https://news.yahoo.com/teacher-fired-receiving-fertility-treatments-211311476--abc-news-topstories.html 

I don't know what to think here... I mean on one hand I think: "well she works for a catholic school and knows how they feel about it and decided to disclose the information anyways..." and the other side of me is just shocked and dismayed... Thoughts?

MelleTX

I am kinda with you on not being sure how I feel about it. 

Fundamentally, I strongly disagree with the position of the Catholic church on fertility treatments. We could argue the absurdity of their viewpoint all day long. The issue here is not whether their beliefs are wrong or archaic. The issue is, did they have the right to terminate her? 

As an employee of the organization, she is bound by their teachings and beliefs and expected to conduct herself in a manner consistent with those beliefs. No matter how wrong they may actually me.

One of my clients is a major hospital. They have a strict no tobacco policy. Employees are made aware of this policy and can be terminated if they use tobacco.  

Same principle applies. As an employee, she is aware of what is and is not acceptable behavior for an employee.  

First off, she never should have told them what she was doing. Second, when she brought it up the first time, they should have told her of their position and offered her the opportunity to resign. By not taking action the first time, they led her to believe there would be no recourse. 

Additional merit in her lawsuit falls under the mistreatment, harassment and  defamation when they told her she was an immoral sinner. 

SkyBee

I don't think she should have lost her job over this, but it could have all been avoided if she had kept the infertility treatments out of her work life. I am suprised this is the church's stance on IVF as well........

ge0rge

Catholic teaching is pretty clear on IVF.  While I obviously do not agree, I do understand what the Church teaches and why. 

I'm watching her interview on the Today show right now and so far I'm not sold on her discrimination suit.  Her lawyer is fielding all of the difficult questions and she seems a little unsure - perhaps that's not too strange cause I'm sure being on national TV is extremely intimidating.  I feel for her and pray they are able to add to their family.

ermo515

I saw this an it made me really frustrated. I feel for her...

My husband is catholic and he has actually stopped going to his church because of our journey...If church is supposed to be a place for guidance and support, why go somewhere where they tell you you are a sinner and evil.

 I had a job interview that lasted 3 days at a University about 15 months ago. This was 2 months after I started fertility treatments. I made it 2 days and was enjoying myself. I liked the students, the faculty, and the area. What I was not so comfortable with was its Catholic roots. Before going there, I really didnt think it would impact life on campus (and off) that much....That was until they set up a special meeting with in HR.

I was told that it was standard for every candidate to receive the policies and that most of it probably wouldnt apply to me bc I was young (I was 26 at the time), married, and probably wanted to start a family. Even though the state mandates birth control, we could get none. However, our maternity leave policy was more than sufficient. Then she moved into the stance on fertility treatments...She flew over them fairly quickly, justifying this bc I was so young and mainly this was for older employees...

I just had to sit there...I was so angry and emotional inside. I wanted to cry. Here I was raging on Clomid at this point, with an IUI scheduled for a few days after I got back from this interview...But instead I just had to sit there and hear that, even if I got offered the job, we would not be able to pursue our dreams of having a family through treatments...This interview was our only hope of being in a state that insurance would cover out treatments, and now, it wasnt even that...It would have put me in a corner where I had to chose life and happines over work...For me it was a clear answer.

I immediately knew this was not the supportive environment I wanted to work in...I had 1 more day of my interview, and Im sure they could sense my discomfort and fit for the school bc of their policies. And I was so relieved when they offered the job to the other candidate.

Sorry for the rant, I just feel for this couple. 

  

 

 

ge0rge

"My husband is catholic and he has actually stopped going to his church because of our journey...If church is supposed to be a place for guidance and support, why go somewhere where they tell you you are a sinner and evil."

This is something I struggle with as a Catholic and I'm not sure I've completely come to terms with some of the possible results of IVF.  Thus far (although I can't even seem to get past an ER), it hasn't been a big issue for me b/c everything I've done is natural cycle.  But I may very well have to do a stimulated cycle and that's quite a change.

I've thought long and hard about the sinning part and I've pretty much come to the conclusion that regardless of how the Church judges me - the only judgement that will count is God's and no one has a lock on that.

Anyway, hugs for going through that interview - I'm sure it was the last thing you needed at that moment.

AngnShaun

Im not shocked by any means... but

 

"You're a grave immoral sinner" - makes me physically ill

Trippleb

I didn't see the interview but I read something online yesterday.   I am Catholic, this is just one more thing that makes me feel less and less connected to the church.  No way should she lose her job over trying to have a family.  It makes me sick.

When I went to get blood work done at my local hospital, one of the lab techs I spoke to had twin girls.  She was very open about her IF (ivf) treatments.  Later I discovered that the girls go to our parish's school.    Should ivf children be allowed in Catholic schools?   The school is ok with accepting tutiun for ivf babies, but why?  Aren't they they product of a motal sin?  How about children conceived out of wedlock?   They should be banned too.  Where do you draw the line?  Certainly not with this teacher.

 One IF clinic I went to was connected to a Catholic hospital.  If you needed surgical treatments by this doctor, you went to the Catholic hospital to have them performed.   If the church is so strict on it's rules, certainly a doctor who performs IVF shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine in a Catholic hospital?  Oops, but I forgot...it generates money.  It's ok then.  ARGH!  I get so angry at the hypocrisy!

AngnShaun

Trippleb:

I didn't see the interview but I read something online yesterday.   I am Catholic, this is just one more thing that makes me feel less and less connected to the church.  No way should she lose her job over trying to have a family.  It makes me sick.

When I went to get blood work done at my local hospital, one of the lab techs I spoke to had twin girls.  She was very open about her IF (ivf) treatments.  Later I discovered that the girls go to our parish's school.    Should ivf children be allowed in Catholic schools?   The school is ok with accepting tutiun for ivf babies, but why?  Aren't they they product of a motal sin?  How about children conceived out of wedlock?   They should be banned too.  Where do you draw the line?  Certainly not with this teacher.

 One IF clinic I went to was connected to a Catholic hospital.  If you needed surgical treatments by this doctor, you went to the Catholic hospital to have them performed.   If the church is so strict on it's rules, certainly a doctor who performs IVF shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine in a Catholic hospital?  Oops, but I forgot...it generates money.  It's ok then.  ARGH!  I get so angry at the hypocrisy!

EXCELLENT POST!!!   Hypocrites!

racheyt0227

I am in a very small, open office, so I may be in denial here, but my office knows all about my troubles. I have had so many appointments, etc that are sometimes during the work day. I couldn't imagine lying (or not telling them at least something) I guess most people just take off on apt days? I go to my apt & come back to work, so I have always been open with them. They are very supportive though & I can understand not all employers may be that way. We are about to do IVF & I'm assuming that will be even more apts, etc & sometimes ER, ET, etc are a days notice, so I personally would find it hard not to at least tell them something is going on.

 

I feel bad for the woman. I'm glad I am not religious, because I would be really hurt to be told this if I belonged to that religion.