About 70.5 percent of those responding to this week’s online poll disapproved of Bishop Robert Vasa requiring all teachers under his diocese to sign a ‘morals’ addendum. About 23 percent approved, and 6.5 percent weren’t sure.
(Editor’s note: after this poll was launched, Bishop Robert Vasa relented in his request that all teachers sign the “morals” addendum, but said that they would still need to sign some version of the addendum by 2015.)
Here were some of the comments.
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“Absolutely not! I am a Catholic whose sons went to St. Vincent. Teachers should be entitled to their own beliefs. It should not affect their teaching at all. The bishop is overreaching with his authoritarian attitude.”
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“Heaven forbid…..they are private schools.”
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“If I am a teacher, if I do not teach religious studies, if I am not a Catholic, why am I being asked to sign this document? I do not impose religious beliefs on others. Also, don’t these schools receive public benefit? Then they should comply with laws of the community or give up those benefits.”
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“I sincerely hope that there are strong repercussions as a result of this preposterous grandstanding.”
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“I think a private school run under a religious set of beliefs should be able to set its own standards (within reason).”
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“I’m very glad he changed his mind!”
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“It is a violation of the teacher’s privacy. It is unenforceable. Is the next step to require the students and the parents to sign a similar document? As far as I know no other bishop is requiring anything similar. He is out of step with the times. Some of these teachers have been dedicating their lives to education for over 30 years. They have not harmed the school community. The bishop is making this demand without having visited the campus or communicated with the teachers involved.”
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“No. It reeks of McCarthyism.”
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“Private schools can have any requirements.”
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“The gall of this man! How dare he interfere with the rights of teachers to think and vote the way they please! When does he start monitoring their bowel movements?”
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“They are private schools. If you don’t like it, go work in a public school and get a nice fat pension and great benefits.”
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“What is he thinking? Who does he think he is wanting such a thing? I for one would never think of sending my child there if this went into effect!”
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“What year is this? Love. That’s what it should all come down to; love, respect, tolerance. Our world is too small and our lives are too short to be so judgmental, so intolerant of others, so unkind and unthinking.”
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“Why doesn’t the Catholic church become a model of what they want their teachers and students to become first? Lead by example. I believe that is what Jesus taught us all. As a matter of fact, What Would Jesus Do? Turn away those who are passionate about education and empowering children to become better human beings by treating others with respect and dignity?”
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“How absolutely ridiculous! They will lose many fine math, science and English teachers over this.”
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“If they were to hire solely Catholic teachers, there might be an argument for the clause, however, this is not the case.”
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“I think that as it is a private religious school situation, it is fine. However, it should only be required of new teachers. As for existing teachers, it wasn’t mandatory when they were hired. Changing the terms of their employment after they have already taken the job, is unfair. I do think it’s odd to have the general public chiming in on matters that don’t concern them if they aren’t Catholic. We don’t spend so much time judging Muslims, Jews, or Buddhists and their schools.
People seem to hate Catholics.”
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“Want to pick up a paycheck from the Catholic church? Then sign on the dotted line, which means you support and agree to uphold the morals clause. These folks need something they can count on from their teachers.”
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“Poor catechesis in Catholic schools has contributed to the breakdown in the understanding of what the Catholic Church believes. This has further contributed to the breakdown of practicing authentic Catholicism. Do we really need a teacher who is in favor or abortion, same-sex ‘marriage’ or contraception?”
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