Michael Califano via Facebook
CV NEWS FEED // The Diocese of Rockville Centre in Long Island, New York is under attack for firing a pro-LGBT third-grade teacher after he violated their handbook policy and failed to adhere to Catholic values.
Michael Califano, 26, has been teaching third grade at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, New York for over 18 months. Last week, an anonymous source sent the diocese photos from a social media account of Califano kissing his boyfriend.
Shortly after the diocese received the photos, Califano said that “he met with the school’s pastor and a diocese representative last week informing him he had violated a handbook policy about adhering to Catholic values, and that his employment had been terminated after more than 18 months with the school,” according to a December 29 article by Li Herald.
Califano’s termination of employment was quickly met with a group of supporters trying to organize a pushback against the diocese. Califano’s aunt Karen Greenwood started an online petition for diocesean bishop John Barres and superintendent Pamela Sanders to reinstate Califano.
Greenwood claimed “that the school administrators had known Mr Califano was gay when they hired him, and that the decision to sack him was made against their wishes by the local Catholic diocese,” according to the Independent.
On December 29, more than a hundred people gathered outside of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY in protest of Califano’s firing.
Califano and his family have deep roots in the diocesan school network, as both Califano and his late father were alums of Maria Regina Catholic School. Califano’s father, Michael Califano Sr., a police officer, died in the line of duty in 2011 when a truck hit his police car at a traffic stop.
In response to the inquiries of several media outlets, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Rockville Centre said, “For privacy reasons, we do not comment publicly on personnel matters, but we can say that the school did not end Mr Califano’s employment over his sexuality.”
Employees of the Long Island Diocese sign a contract in which they “solemnly pledge” to follow the stated policies. The first policy listed is,
I will to the best of my ability, perform my work in a manner consistent with the mission of the Catholic Church and the DRVC.
Having listed the policies, the contract states,
I understand that any action inconsistent with this Code of Conduct, or actions inconsistent with DRVC policies for the protection of children and young people, or failure to take action mandated by this Code of Conduct may result in removal from my position.
