INDIANAPOLIS — A federal judge has ruled in favor of Roncalli High School and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis years after a former guidance counselor filed a federal lawsuit against both parties.
Shelly Fitzgerald filed the lawsuit in 2019. Fitzgerald worked for Roncalli for 15 years before she was fired after the school learned she was in a same-sex marriage.
Fitzgerald alleged that Roncalli retaliated against her and the Archdiocese interfered with her contractual and business relationship with the school.
The Archdiocese and Roncalli said the ministerial exception bars all of Fitzgerald's claims. The exception binds courts "to stay out of employment disputes involving those holding certain important positions with churches and other religious institutions."
Fitzgerald argued that Roncalli never entrusted her with religious teaching duties by raising numerous genuine factual disputes over what exactly she did at the school.
In court documents, Judge Richard L. Young wrote that "Roncalli entrusted Fitzgerald to teach the Catholic faith and carry out Roncalli's religious mission. Fitzgerald's employment agreement was a "teaching ministry contract" and Fitzgerald agreed to "[f]aithfully perform all duties of a [t]eacher in the school."
Young also said that the job of a high school guidance counsellor is "predominately secular" and that it was a stretch to call the counsellor a minister.
"But because Roncalli, through the employment agreement and faculty handbooks, expressly entrusted Fitzgerald with shaping the school's religious policy, Fitzgerald's position as Co-Director of Guidance qualifies for the ministerial exception," the document read.
The judge granted summary judgement and resolved all of the claims at issue in the case.
PREVIOUS: Shelly Fitzgerald files EEOC charge against Roncalli High School and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis | Shelly Fitzgerald remains on paid leave with Roncalli, is pushing for changes in Archdiocese | Roncalli counselor was says she was asked to resign after school learned of same-sex marriage | Parents demand change and show support for Roncalli counselor | Archbishop responds to controversy surrounding Roncalli guidance counselor's same-sex marriage | Roncalli president cancels board meeting where protests planned in support of counselor
-
Conference in Indianapolis preparing superintendents of the future
One group is working to encourage more educators of color to pursue leadership roles, including the top position in school districts.
38th Street Renaissance Project revitalizing East side corridor
New Direction Church and National Bank of Indianapolis are revitalizing East 38th Street, creating jobs and helping residents become homeowners through the 38th Street Renaissance Project.
Hoosiers face mounting medical debt reaching thousands of dollars
Bearing the burden of medical debt impacts many Hoosier families. In our state, there’s an estimated $2.2 billion of medical debt in collections.
Council approves Sept. 22 public hearing on Google data center fate
Monday night, all 25 City-County Council members voted to approve a public hearing on the proposed Franklin Township Google Data Center for September 22 after a packed meeting.
