WMG Volume 5 • Issue 3 February 21, 2018
Community
Wilton Manors Gazette
Gay Firing Adds to Calls to Increase Fire Assessment By Michael d’Oliveira
A gay teacher fired in Miami is now being or organization there are policies and used as a reason to increase the fire assessment procedures and teachings and traditions that are adhered to. If something along the way does fee paid by non-profits in Wilton Manors. Recently Saints Peter and Paul Catholic not continue to stay within that contract, then School fired first grade teacher Jocelyn Morffi we have no other choice,” stated Archdiocese after she married her same-sex partner, which is spokeswoman Mary Ross Agosta in the Herald prohibited by the school. The school is operated article. The Herald also reported that some parents by the Archdiocese, which also operates St. defended Morffi and demanded Clement’s Catholic Church in she be reinstated. Wilton Manors. Samantha Mills, whose child Meanwhile the city of Wilton “This teacher was in Morffi’s class last year, Manors gives non-profits a told the Herald that many steep discount on their fire in particular parents continue to be outraged. assessment fees. Up until 2015 has made such ‘This teacher in particular has they paid nothing. made such a contribution to the Sal Torre, president of the a contribution school. She never imposes her Westside Association of Wilton personal beliefs on others. She Manors, brought up Morffi’s to the school... just does everything in love. She firing to the commission during She just does has a way of teaching that is so its Feb. 13 meeting. Torre said it amazing.’” was unfair for gay and lesbian everything in The fire assessment fee is taxpayers to “foot the bill” for the love.” levied against property owners Archdiocese’s fire assessment to pay for the city’s fire services. while that organization was able - Samantha Mills For years, non-profits were to fire teachers for being gay. parent exempt from the fee. But that “This weekend I married the changed in 2015 when the love of my life and unfortunately I was terminated from my job as a result. In their commission approved charging non-profits eyes I’m not the right kind of Catholic for my 20 percent of their assessed fire fee. That choice in partner,” wrote Morffi on social media. percentage may go up in the 2018/2019 city According to the Herald, the Archdiocese budget. “We have said the fire assessment is stated that Morffi broke her contract under church rules of conduct. “As a teacher in a something that will change. We gave them a Catholic school their responsibility is partly for break on the fire assessment. So, let’s make that the spiritual growth of the children. One has to break smaller,” said Commissioner Tom Green. understand that in any corporation, institution WMG
St. Clement’s Catholic Church, via Facebook.
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