No really, they can do that?

Wait a minute, so it's legal in 15 states for same-sex couples to marry, but if your employer doesn't approve, then they're totally within their rights to fire you as long as their objection is religiously based? That doesn't sound right...

"You want to get married...to a woman? I don't know Janice, your work has been exemplary,
but I'm going to have to run this by my pastor, see what he thinks. Let's touch base in a week."

Holy Ghost prep's mascot:
Hank the Holy Ghost

...but, here we are. If you remember back in October, the State of New Jersey legalized same-sex marriage over the irrational and alliterative objections of Governor Chris Christie. That's when a teacher at Holy Ghost Preparatory (it's a Catholic High School, so you can probably tell where this is going) named Michael Griffin, who is gay, and his fiancée (who is probably also gay) decided to get hitched. Cool right? But when Griffin informed Headmaster Fr. James McCloskey of his plans to marry, he was told he'd be let go.

"I got yer moral teaching right here!"

-Some Crusader

According to the Headmaster, Griffin wasn't being fired because he's gay, but because getting gay married violates the conditions for employment. Which conditions? Not being gay and married apparently. There's this vaguely worded provision in Griffin's contract that states that 'all teachers must uphold lifestyles compatible with the moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.' Not super-specific, is it? Like, it could mean whatever they want it to mean. It's an all-purpose grounds for dismissal and in this instance, it amounts to a 'no queers allowed' policy.

"Thou shalt not suffer a gay guy to teach French class."

-The Bible, The Book of Somewhereintheback,
Chapter: <cough>, Verse: hey, look over there!

Also, it's a pretty stuffy attitude for a
guy calling himself The Headmaster.

Can you believe it? Even more insane is the fact that Headmaster McCloskey already knew that Griffin is gay, but only made an issue out of it when he and his partner applied for the marriage license. So to be clear: McCloskey is fine with Griffin being gay, he's just not ok with Griffin finding happiness in a committed relationship. I guess that's only for straight people. Hey, you know what that was? That that was the moment when Father James McCloskey surrendered any moral authority or credibility he ever had when discussing the importance and sanctity of marriage, thank you very much.

Anyway, surely the school needs a better reason to fire someone than 'got gay married in violation of out bullshit, medieval policy,' right? I mean, this is 2013, can they really make the case that Michael Griffin's gay wedding will somehow impede his ability to teach AP French?

"Je suis, tu es, il est, nous...nous...I'm sorry class, I have to stop, I can't...
I'm just too gay to conjugate être in the present tense, if you'll excuse me..."

Above: Griffin, seen here not suing
the frocks off everyone in sight.

Seriously, how long until Griffin calls down a legal shitstorm the likes of which mankind has never before seen? What's that? Never? Really? Here, check this out:

"I am trying to move forward with a peaceful heart and wish nothing but the best to my colleges and students who mean the world to me."

-Micheal Griffin,

turning all kinds of cheeks

"A peaceful heart? Forgiveness?
Sounds a little gay if you ask us..."

Wow, he's just forgiving the people who wronged him and is moving on with his life. Do you suppose anyone in the school's administration is appreciating the irony here? I mean, for real, are two-thousand years of Catholic teachings and traditions going to come crashing down if Holy Ghost Preparatory were to let go of some outmoded, old-testament mindset and instead keep a teacher who actually lives the philosophy they're trying to espouse?