INDIANAPOLIS — Shelly Fitzgerald, the Roncalli guidance counselor currently on administrative leave because of her marriage to another woman, has filed a second complaint against the school and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
The Charge of Discrimination was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency that enforces civil rights laws against workplace discrimination.
Attorney David Page says this latest legal action concerns Shelly Fitzgerald's father, Pat Fitzgerald, a long-time volunteer at the south side Indianapolis Catholic high school.
The charge says Pat Fitzgerald was banned from leading the annual Roncalli senior class retreats after his daughter filed her first charge against the school and archdiocese.
Shelly Fitzgerald's first complaint with the EEOC came after she was told to resign her position at Roncalli or get a divorce.
At the time, the archdiocese issued a statement saying Fitzgerald had not been discriminated against.
The statement also said Fitzgerald had signed an employment contract that she live in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church and that she breached her contract when she married another woman.
In response to the latest EEOC complaint, the archdiocese issued this statement:
"Roncalli High School is grateful for Mr. Pat Fitzgerald’s contributions over the years including volunteering to work at past senior Christian Awakening Retreats. Senior retreats are designed to be free of distractions to allow students to focus on their relationship with God. Due to the continuing attention surrounding his daughter’s suspension as a Roncalli guidance counselor after she violated her employment contract and his own participation in public protests over Catholic Church teaching, Mr. Fitzgerald was told that he would not be asked to work at this year’s retreats. Mr. Fitzgerald continues to be welcomed at the school’s public events and Masses."
