Unmarried pregnant teacher fired by Catholic school files complaint

Published: 2005-12-01

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- An unmarried pregnant schoolteacher who was fired by a Catholic school after she announced her pregnancy to her school principal filed a complaint against the school and the Brooklyn Diocese where it is located, claiming her job termination violated a federal law banning discrimination against pregnant women. The New York American Civil Liberties Union filed the complaint Nov. 21 with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of 26-year-old pre-kindergarten teacher Michelle McCusker, a first-year teacher at St. Rose of Lima School in Rockaway Beach who was fired Oct. 10. A brief statement issued by the Brooklyn Diocese after the complaint was announced called the situation difficult for every person involved and one in which the "school had no choice but to follow the principles contained in the teachers' personnel handbook." According to Frank DeRosa, diocesan spokesman, the teacher had signed a notice saying she received the teacher's personnel handbook. The handbook says that each teacher must "convey the teachings of the Catholic faith by his or her words and actions."

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