Student protest over vice principal’s removal

In Seattle, Catholic high- school students have been leading protests, including a sit-in at their school, to protest over the removal of vice principal Mark Zmuda because he married his same-sex partner in a civil ceremony, writes Michael Sean Winters.

Same-sex marriage was legalised in Washington state by a referendum of voters, following which Zmuda married his partner.

The lawyer for Holy Names of Mary and Jesus School said that after learning of Zmuda’s marriage, the school contacted authorities in the archdiocese, and concluded that Zmuda could not stay. The school claims Zmuda quit but he insists he was fired.

“It’s a firm decision,” Sr Mary Tracy, the school’s president, told the Bellevue Reporter last month. “If the teachings of the Church change, I’d hire him back in a minute. He’s a wonderful educator.”

At a protest outside the archdiocesan offices, the students were joined by Seattle’s openly gay mayor-elect, Ed Murray, who is also Catholic. The students are planning more protests in the weeks ahead, hoping to get the archdiocese to reverse the decision. “This is only the beginning,” a statement issued by the student protesters said.