News Archive

Professor Jennifer Drobac talked with Indianapolis television station WTHR about the guidance counselor at an Indianapolis Catholic high school who was suspended from her duties because of her marriage to a woman. The news story aired on August 14.

The guidance counselor, Shelly Fitzgerald, says in the story that she wants to talk with the high school, Roncalli, rather than head to court. Professor Drobac indicates that if the parties do end up in a courtroom, the case will be a tough one. Because the high school is a religious institution, it can require that employees comply with religious beliefs.

"Are they following the laws of the United States and the laws of Indiana? At this point, I think there's some debate," Drobac said in the story. "I think given our culture at the moment and given some gaps in the law, this woman's going to have a tough fight ahead of her. That religious exemption is what's going to cause the hitch. It really depends on how her role is defined and if she's determined that her role is one of furthering the Catholic mission, similar to a priest or a pastor, then she'll be in trouble."