Ohio mum wins discrimination case against Catholic Church

By

Barry Duke

 

CHRISTA Dias, who was fired from two schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati in October 2010, has been awarded more than $170,000 after winning her federal anti-discrimination lawsuit against the archdiocese.

Christa Dias

The lesbian teacher was given her marching orders for having dared to become pregnant via artificial insemination, an act regarded by the archdiocese as a breach of a contract that required her to comply with the philosophies and teachings of the Catholic church. The Church considers artificial insemination immoral and a violation of church doctrine.
But a jury found in her favour and awarded her damages. The archdiocese is expected to appeal the decision.
Meanwhile, in Australia, the Church has reacted with horror to the suggestion that Domus Australia (“Australia House”), a palatial building in Rome which the Catholic Church purchased and renovated for about $30 million, should be sold off to compensate victims of Catholic clerical abuse.
Cardinal George Pell stays there six or seven times a year, according to the rector of the on-site chapel, Father Andrew James.
A Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into clerical child sexual abuse committee member, Andrea Coote, caused a sensation when she suggested the Church could flog it to raise funds for compensating victims.
Father Brendan Arthur sprung to the defence of what he fondly calls an “Australian Oasis” saying that selling the place would be a crime because:

For people like that [victims] it’s never going to be enough.

Brendan asked:

Where do you stop? Sell off St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney next? Or St Patrick’s in Melbourne?

When he is not in occupying the property, Pell rents it out for $250 per night per room and $120 per meal.