A gay third-grade teacher says he was fired from his job at a Catholic elementary school on Long Island after someone sent the local diocese a photo of him kissing his boyfriend.
Michael Califano, 26, learned of his termination from Maria Regina School in Seaford, New York, Wednesday, after being told he had violated diocesan guidelines regarding “living a Catholic lifestyle,” News 12 Long Island reported.
“Someone sent me some pictures of my boyfriend and I, and it escalated from there,” she told the outlet.
Califano said he did not feel that he had done anything wrong.
Califano has deep roots in the Maria Regina community: He has been a parishioner at the local church for years and attended the school as a child, as did his late father, veteran Nassau County police officer Michael Califano, who was killed in the crash . in 2011 when his son was just 13 years old.
Michael Califano was allegedly fired over an anonymous email containing a picture of him kissing his boyfriend. Brigitte Stelzer Michael Califano, 26, said she was fired from her job teaching at a Catholic elementary school because of a photo of her kissing her boyfriend. News12 Califano has taught for two years at Maria Regina School in Seaford, New York, which he attended as a child. News12
The Califano family raises funds at the school each year for a scholarship in the name of a fallen police officer.
“I don’t think this will happen in 2023, even in the Catholic Church,” Califano said.
Many parents and students have come to Califano’s defense on social media and through petitions on Change.org demanding his reinstatement.
Authors of the online petition, which has so far attracted more than 2,650 signatures, hailed Califano as a “much-loved, committed and hard-working educator” whose removal “not only affects Michael personally but it also deprives the community of a dedicated servant who has consistently contributed to its enrichment.”
Califano (center) said the diocese accused him of not living a Catholic lifestyle. News12
The petition goes on to say that the decision to fire Califano was based on a “malicious” anonymous email from someone who had “unearthed” photos of Califano and her boyfriend on a social media account that was clearly not her own. intention to fire him.
Califano told Newsday that both the school and the diocese were aware that he was gay when they hired him two years ago, and no one ever raised questions about his sexuality until the Rev. John O. Barres, the bishop of the diocese, received an email with a picture of a kiss from her boyfriend’s Facebook page.
“They said they found things in the account that were inappropriate for a Catholic school teacher,” Califano said. “There is nothing abusive on that account.”
A petition has been launched on Change.org demanding Califano’s reinstatement. Change.org Students and parents alike support Michael Califano. Brigitte Stelzer
Mary Ann Hasbrouck, a retired teacher, slammed the Califano shooting as “kind of a witch hunt.”
“This man teaches at the school, he is loved by all students and parents, does a great job, goes above and beyond,” he said, adding that everyone was “blindsided” by the diocese’s decision to fire him.
Parent Toni Lichtenberger said Califano helped her daughter overcome her school anxiety when she was in her class last year.
Califano said if he was told he could get his job back, he would accept without hesitation.
Supporters of Michael Califano agree that there is nothing inappropriate on his social media accounts. Brigitte Stelzer A retired teacher referred to Califano’s firing as a “witch hunt.” Brigitte Stelzer
A spokesperson for the Rockville Diocesan Center denied that Califano was fired for being gay in an email to The Post Friday, but did not provide an alternative explanation for the teacher’s removal.
“For privacy reasons, we do not comment publicly on personnel matters, but we can say that the school did not terminate Mr. Califano’s employment because of his sexuality,” said Sean Dolan, director of communications for the diocese.
Meanwhile, parents plan to hold a rally in support of Califano in front of St. Agnes late Friday.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
