I've been struggling with the case of Ms. Michelle McCusker--the 26 year old pre kindergarten teacher who got herself fired from a Catholic School for sharing that she was pregnant and had not intention of marrying the dad.
For the past week I've tried to decide how I feel about the case. Religious rights vs. job discrimination?
On this one, I really do see both sides. I searched the blogs looking for insight and clarity...for that one post that would bring it home to me. For that post that would resonate so strongly that I could say..YES that is what I believe.
I think I found my answer. Maybe the issue isn't as fundamental as a religious rights vs women's rights, after-all.
Maybe it' really about practicality. The girl needs health insurance.--- It's really expensive to have a baby particularly when you are out of work and do not have health insurance. This concept really resonated since I just got my new health insurance bill... almost $700 a month ...just for me. And, I don't have any major health issues.
I came upon this realization after reading Amy Welbourn's Open Book where she shares a time when she worked at a Catholic School that also fired an unwed pregnant teacher.
"My sense of the situation in my school is that not even the teacher in question herself really took that much issue with the letting go - and she wasn't Catholic - but what stuck in the craw was the diocese's withdrawal of her health insurance. A group of pro-lifers even went to the diocese, in the person of the Chancellor (a religious sister), and argued on the teacher's behalf. No dice. Tough. The situation was finally saved by a local pastor (priest - an old Irishman. They tend to come through.) who worked something out so she could be supported and receive health care.
Irony?
After the baby was born, she was re-hired, and taught at the school for another year. It was all very legalistic and tricky, and besides, other situations had worked themselves out. All of this before she had the good sense to get out of teaching and go into real estate, at which she has been, in the years sense, tremendously successful..."
Of course I have not personally chatted with Ms.McCusker. I do not know her motivations.
But I do understand medical bills and the need to have really good health insurance. So, if her issue is that she needs health insurance to protect the life of this unborn child, then I would be very comfortable supporting her.
And, I hope her former employer does too.
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