An adored gay teacher was allegedly fired from the Catholic school after teaching for seven years for marrying her girlfriend in Miami.
Jocelyn Morffi had been teaching at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic School before the school let her go, in what it called “a difficult and necessary decision” in a letter sent home to parents.
Morffi claims she was fired for being gay as the school did not give any reasons for firing the teacher.“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.”The teacher was called 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 spokesperson Mary Ross Agosta said that 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,” Agosta said.
“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,” she added.Sts Peter and Paul Catholic School did not respond to a request for comment.
The firing enraged many parents, who claimed Morffi was one of the most adored and celebrated teachers at the school. Almost 20 of them showed up at the school to demand answers.
“This teacher in particular has made such a contribution to the school,” parent Samantha Mills said. “She never imposes her personal beliefs on others. She just does everything in love. She has a way of teaching that is so amazing.”
