The Main Line Catholic school principal under fire after she didn’t renew the contract of a religious education teacher because of the teacher's same-sex marriage acknowledged the entire school community “has been shaken” by the firing that has left many “hurting.”
Waldron Mercy Academy principal Nell Stetser sent a letter home to parents of students at the Merion Station, Pennsylvania school Wednesday that makes no direct mention to fired teacher Margie Winters but does make mention of the firestorm it created.
“Despite the discord and conflict deep within us, I believe our strength lies in the common passion we share for your children and their education,” wrote Stetser. “So with a humble heart, I am asking you to join me in the process of healing and rebuilding our Waldron Mercy community.
“As the first step in this rebuilding process, our school will use a skilled facilitator to lead us in a series of productive conversations about the complex challenges that we face today. We’ll convene our first all-parents meeting before Waldron Mercy’s first day of school.”
Many parents expressed anger over Winters firing. However, the Religious Sisters of Mercy and Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput praised Stetser’s action. Chaput went as far as saying Stetser and Waldron showed “character” in firing Winters. Same-sex relationships aren’t recognized in Catholicism.
More than 200 families from Waldron Mercy gathered last week to show their support and gratitude for Winters, who had been an educator at the Merion Station school for eight years.
Stetser said she was “encouraged by the outpouring of heartfelt concern and passion of our community.”
According to Winters, her relationship with partner, Andrea Winters, did not seem to bother the administration until a marriage license came into the picture. She believes that a parent who was upset with a school curriculum decision went to the administration about Winters’ gay marriage and contacted the Archdioceses of Philadelphia.
The archdiocese said that it didn't influence Stetser's decision.
