by Frank Schroth

In the same week that Governor Patrick proclaimed in his State of the State address, “And today in Massachusetts, you can marry whomever you love;” Fontbonne Academy, a Catholic girls school here in Milton, made news with the dismissal of a employee, Matthew Barrett, who claims he was released because he is gay. The church does not recognize gay marriage.

Barrett was hired to be the school’s food services director. A couple of days later the offer was taken back. The Patriot Ledger reported:

Barrett said he listed his spouse as his emergency contact when he was asked to fill out employee forms. Two days later, Fontbonne administrators called Barrett into a meeting at the school where they rescinded the job offer.

“I learned that Fontbonne would no longer hire me because I am gay and married to a man,” Barrett said in his complaint.

In a statement released Thursday by the school, Assistant Head of School Gregg Chambers said, “Fontbonne Academy does not discriminate against anyone based on their sexual orientation.” (Read the full story here.)

The story received national attention (Huffington Post) and was the topic of commentary by Yvonne Abraham in today’s Globe (Milton School No Longer a Beacon of Acceptance?).  Ms. Abraham writes:

The school did seek guidance from the diocese before acting, said Greg Chambers, assistant head of the school. Though the diocese has no official sway over the school, it’s easy to imagine the nuns who oversee Fontbonne — the kind of nuns who have been the target of chilling papal scrutiny in recent years — not wanting to take the risk here.

In any case, Chambers toed the official line Friday afternoon. “We are a school guided by the beliefs of the Catholic Church, and marriage between persons of the same sex is contrary to the teachings of the church,” he said.

Mr. Chambers statement to the Globe contradicts the release referred to by the Ledger. Alumnae of Fontbonne have begun a Facebook group, Ducks Against Discrimination. In their about statement they write:

When we attended Fontbonne Academy, we were taught social justice, to be “women of integrity” and “courage” strong enough to stand up for what we believe. We “Fontbonne Ducks” took pride in the fact that Fontbonne followed the true meaning of Catholic and preached a message of inclusion to people from all walks of life.

They conclude their statement with a quote from Pope Francis made last year, If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Ms. Abraham in her commentary also cites that quote and argues that if there continues to be a split between congregants that embrace the church’s message of justice and love with officials position on social issues then “Fissures like the one opened at Fontbonne Academy will be more frequent, and more damaging. If the church is to thrive, it will have to embrace, or at least adapt to, the change those parishioners represent.”

Another alum, Christa D. Labouliere, Ph.D, sent a letter into the Boston.com blog, BostonSpirit, challenging the action taken by the school. It can be found here.