17 August 2023 , 14:28
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A Catholic school fired a teacher after she got pregnant due to premarital sex - and a court has upheld the decision.
The New Jersey Supreme Court has sided with St. Theresa School, a Catholic institution, in a case involving the dismissal of a teacher due to premarital pregnancy.
The court's ruling solidifies the school's stance that it had the right to terminate Victoria Crisitello's employment based on her violation of the school's Code of Ethics.
The legal battle, which spanned nearly a decade, began when Victoria, a former student of St. Theresa School in New Jersey, revealed her pregnancy to Principal Sister Theresa Lee during a discussion about a possible promotion.
She was informed weeks later that her employment was terminated due to her engagement in premarital sex, a breach of the Catholic school's moral principles.
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Victoria had been working as an art teacher and toddler room caregiver at the school since 2011. She filed a lawsuit in 2014, alleging that her dismissal was discriminatory, as it was based on her pregnancy and marital status.
She was dismissed from her role as a teacher and toddler caregiver at St Theresa School in Kenilworth, NJ, for 'violating the tenets of the Catholic faith' (Google)Her legal team argued that the school's assertion that her termination was due to religious reasons was a "mere pretext." The case went through multiple rounds of court proceedings, with trial court judges initially dismissing Victoria's claims.
However, the state Appellate Division later overturned those decisions, leading to the recent ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court. In its decision, the court supported St. Theresa School's position that religious institutions have the authority to make staffing decisions in accordance with their religious tenets.
The school's lawyer, Peter Verniero said: “Equally important, the court found no evidence of discrimination in this case. This is a significant validation of St. Theresa School’s rights as a religious employer.”
The dismayed teacher filed a complaint alleging discrimination based on pregnancy and marital status (Facebook)Victoria Crisitello's attorney, Tom McKinney said: "We're disappointed with the outcome, we understand the decision, it's been almost a 10-year legal battle."
The case raises important questions about the balance between religious freedom and employment rights. When Victoria was hired, she had signed an acknowledgment stating her understanding of the school's Code of Ethics, which required adherence to Catholic teachings, including refraining from premarital sex.
The court said Victoria, who is described as a 'practicing Catholic' in court documents, broke the Code of Ethics she signed when she was hired by the school which requires staff to abide by the rules of the religion.
The state attorney general's office also weighed in on the ruling, expressing disappointment with the decision but clarifying that its impact would be limited to the specific circumstances of this case. The office stated that the ruling would not affect the broader protections provided by the Law Against Discrimination for the majority of New Jersey residents.