Complaint opens debate on educators' ‘Catholicity’

EDMONTON – Alberta Catholic teachers are speaking out after Education Minister David Eggen announced an investigation into whether so-called Catholicity — or morality — employment clauses are discriminatory.

The issue was sparked by a former principal who filed two human rights complaints against the Calgary Catholic School District, alleging she was pushed out due to discrimination on religious, marital and sexual orientation grounds.

Since then, Catholicity clauses in teacher contracts have come under the media spotlight. The clauses vary from district to district, but list expectations such as attending weekly Mass and following and modelling a lifestyle in harmony with the practices and beliefs of the Catholic Church. One tenet of the faith is that marriage is a sacramental union between a man and a woman.

Eggen’s office has ordered a review of teacher contracts at all 17 Catholic school districts in Alberta.

His office said the minister was “deeply concerned to learn that any school board was making their employees sign a document that says it is not OK to be gay. He believes that it is simply not acceptable in today’s Alberta.”

The issue of Catholicity clauses is so fraught that Catholic educators employed by Alberta school districts declined comment when contacted by Grandin Media. Nevertheless, others felt compelled to speak up.

“It is totally appropriate for Catholic schools to ask their teachers to live lifestyles that do not contradict the Catholic faith that the school is promoting,” Brett Fawcett, who has taught in both Catholic and public schools in Alberta, said in an op-ed for Grandin Media.

Fawcett cited a 1996 Supreme Court case that stated that even Charter freedoms could be limited in the case of teachers, because the standard of behaviour that the job requires of them is higher than for the average citizen.

“Having taught at both Catholic and secular schools, my experience is that working at almost any school will require a level of having to accommodate yourself to that school’s mission,” he wrote.

Eggen’s office encouraged any teachers who feel a Catholicity clause is being used to discriminate against them to contact the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) or the Human Rights Commission.

In a statement, the ATA said it would vigorously defend teachers whose rights are denied.

In her complaint, Barb Hamilton — a longtime teacher and principal — alleges the Calgary school district discriminated against her by refusing to employ her on the grounds of marital status, religious beliefs and sexual orientation. Hamilton claims that staff in Catholic schools suffer from a sense of fear and there is an unspoken “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach.

“I think we ought to look towards a bigger question,” said Hudson Byblow, a Catholic speaker who has taught in Alberta and Saskatchewan

He’d rather see Catholicity clauses refocused on modelling Catholic virtues, rather than “behavioural expectations.”

“We all know that if a teacher doesn’t believe something or uphold a particular value, they will be less effective at living the joy of that belief and value, and thus less effective at passing it on to others.”

In spite of critics and an organized campaign against Catholic schools, Eggen reiterated the NDP government’s support for publicly-funded Catholic education.

“Our government supports Catholic education in Alberta. We have worked closely with Catholic boards to hire teachers, build schools, and support inclusive classrooms,” he said. “We appreciate the contributions Catholic Albertans have made to our province and respect their constitutionally protected rights.”

(Grandin Media)