Appeals Court Denies Archdiocese's Attempt to Dismiss Drumgoole Discrimination Suit

Kate Drumgoole (right) with her wife  Jaclyn Vanore

It has been almost a year now since Kate Drumgoole was terminated. Drumgoole had been the dean of guidance and girls' basketball coach at Paramus Catholic High School until the archdiocese learned that she was married to another woman. Apparently that interfered with her ability to help kids get into the college of their choice or, for that matter, to coach a full court press. Drumgoole had been in the employ of the school for over eleven years and it was her alma mater.

In April Drumgoole sued the archdiocese whose lawyers tried to get the case dismissed. Over the summer a superior court judge ruled that the case could proceed. In November the archdiocese's lawyers appealed that decision to the state's court of appeals. The motion to dismiss was denied (sustaining the lower court ruling) last Friday.

As a matter of public policy the generally accepted religious exemption applies to ministers. No doubt the archdiocese will claim that Drumgoole was employed in some sort of concocted ministerial capacity. They will also claim that she accepted the terms of employment to live and promote a Catholic lifestyle. However one cannot waive rights afforded to them under law and Drumgoole's lawyers will probably be able to find other employees; people who have had divorces and abortions who were not canned.

Gay people, you see, have special rights to be dismissed for simply being who they are. For years the Church shielded abusive priests from prosecution. Rather than firing those sick jerks the Church shuffled them around from region to region where they continued to inflict damage on kids. Yet one high school guidance counselor, who is hurting no one, gets the ax for being gay.  All the love and compassion that they vocalize — regurgitate — about gay people is just hate. It is plain for all to see. Shame on those prelates and priests who have so abused Ms. Drumgoole.

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