John Myers says 'the Church must be free to take corrective steps to maintain the identity and the integrity of her mission'
NEWARK -- The Archbishop of Newark issued a statement in support of Paramus Catholic High School's decision to fire a administrator after she married a woman.
John J. Myers issued the statement nearly eight months after the school terminated former dean of guidance and girls' basketball coach Kate Drumgoole. Drumgoole, 33, has been married to another Paramus Catholic alum, Jaclyn Vanore, since 2014.
"A same-sex union violates the tenets of the Catholic faith," Myers wrote. "When that happens, the Church must be free to take corrective steps to maintain the identity and the integrity of her mission."
Without naming Drumgoole, Myers than asserted that her marriage is "confusing" to students.
"Such actions can create confusion and uncertainty in the moral formation of the young people he or she encounter," the statement read.
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Drumgoole, of Bogota, has filed a lawsuit arguing she was fired as retaliation for notifying administrators that three students alleged they had been sexually abused during a 2011 trip to Europe.
She filed the suit against Paramus Catholic earlier this month. Last week, a judge denied the school's request to dismiss the suit.
Instead, the judge ruled the case should move forward, with attorneys examining whether Drumgoole worked in a ministerial capacity and whether the dispute is secular or ecclesiastical.
Paramus Catholic learned of the marriage when Vanore's estranged sister posted wedding pictures on Facebook pages associated with the school, NorthJersey.com reported.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.