Michelle McCusker
It broke the news today that a Queens teacher named Michelle McCusker is sueing the Catholic diocese of Brooklyn for firing her after she told the principal of the private, Catholic school that she taught at that she was pregnant, was going to keep the child, and has no plans to marry the father.
Well, a few things here. Aside from the obvious arguments and counter arguments about her lack of a right to be employed against the will of her employer when she has unrepentantly violated her working agreement, lets address the issue of simply asking legitimate questions.
She is quoted as saying:
"I don't understand how a religion that prides itself on forgiving and on valuing life could terminate me because I'm pregnant and choosing to have this baby,"
Parse this with me.
(1) "I don't understand how....because I'm pregnant and choosing to have this baby."
Well. The Catholic church is staunchly anti-abortion, so I guarenee you they're not firing her because she's keeping the baby. In fact, they damn sure would have fired her for NOT keeping it, if they'd known.
(2A) "a religion that prides itself on forgiving..."
You didn't ask forgiveness Michelle. You announced that you weren't going to get married. Asking forgiveness entails admitting you were wrong, and if you felt that you were wrong you would have changed your behavior and gotten married. So obiously, you don't think it was wrong. So how can she be forgiven for something she didn't ask forgiveness for?
(2B)"...and valuing life"
What's that got to do with it? They shouldn't fire you for breaking their rules because they claim to value life? There is no connection here. I suppose you could say that since she made more life, they ought to value her more instead of firing her, but if you said that, you could also say that because they value life so much, you shouldn't be careless with the process that makes it.
Obviously, the statement was a calculated emotional appeal to drum up public outrage. Because, clearly, anyone that would dare go after a pregnant woman is the scourge of enlightened society. My opinion doesn't make me any more worthy to be heard than anyone else, but weather or not anyone feels like reading it, I feel like writing it, if only so I can say something about it, and get it off my chest. And, by that same token, neither does hers. I'm a sinner. I've no stones to throw, but even the Catholic church doesn't deserve an attack like this. They're trying to do the right thing, and their attacker simply doesnt seem to notice that they're only following their own rules, which she was made aware of when they hired her.
That's all from me.
Alexey
Well, a few things here. Aside from the obvious arguments and counter arguments about her lack of a right to be employed against the will of her employer when she has unrepentantly violated her working agreement, lets address the issue of simply asking legitimate questions.
She is quoted as saying:
"I don't understand how a religion that prides itself on forgiving and on valuing life could terminate me because I'm pregnant and choosing to have this baby,"
Parse this with me.
(1) "I don't understand how....because I'm pregnant and choosing to have this baby."
Well. The Catholic church is staunchly anti-abortion, so I guarenee you they're not firing her because she's keeping the baby. In fact, they damn sure would have fired her for NOT keeping it, if they'd known.
(2A) "a religion that prides itself on forgiving..."
You didn't ask forgiveness Michelle. You announced that you weren't going to get married. Asking forgiveness entails admitting you were wrong, and if you felt that you were wrong you would have changed your behavior and gotten married. So obiously, you don't think it was wrong. So how can she be forgiven for something she didn't ask forgiveness for?
(2B)"...and valuing life"
What's that got to do with it? They shouldn't fire you for breaking their rules because they claim to value life? There is no connection here. I suppose you could say that since she made more life, they ought to value her more instead of firing her, but if you said that, you could also say that because they value life so much, you shouldn't be careless with the process that makes it.
Obviously, the statement was a calculated emotional appeal to drum up public outrage. Because, clearly, anyone that would dare go after a pregnant woman is the scourge of enlightened society. My opinion doesn't make me any more worthy to be heard than anyone else, but weather or not anyone feels like reading it, I feel like writing it, if only so I can say something about it, and get it off my chest. And, by that same token, neither does hers. I'm a sinner. I've no stones to throw, but even the Catholic church doesn't deserve an attack like this. They're trying to do the right thing, and their attacker simply doesnt seem to notice that they're only following their own rules, which she was made aware of when they hired her.
That's all from me.
Alexey
posted by Alexios at 8:38 AM
1 Comments:
While I agree with the right and resposibility of the school to take the action that they did, I do take issue with one of your comments. A person needs not ask for forgiveness to receive it. Christ prayed from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." I know many may disagree, but I believe we can say God has forgiven all of us for our sins already, without our having asked for it. However, we do not have reconcilliation until we have repented our sin. This may be any argument of symantics, but I will let you decide.
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