KETTERING -- A former first-grade teacher at Kettering's Ascension School is claiming in federal court the school, Ascension Church and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati wrongfully fired her.
Kathleen Quinlan of Kettering says officials terminated her employment because she was pregnant and not married.
The lawsuit was filed December 14 by her attorneys Mary Lentz and Micah M. Siegal from Gottschlich and Portune, LLP.
Quinlan was hired July 25, 2011, and started work August 11, 2011. She got pregnant in the fall of 2011, with twin girls, according to the lawsuit.
In December 2011, when she started showing her pregnancy she felt it was necessary to tell her bosses. On December 29, 2011, she met with Principal Brett Devitt and told him about her pregnancy and offered to take a "behind-the-scenes" role at Ascension until she gave birth, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit further states Devitt told her "Ascension would do everything possible to support her but needed to confer with Father Worland and the Archdiocese regarding the issue."
"She recommended the behind-the-scenes role and they said you can either resign or we'll fire you," said Siegal.
Later in the day, the lawsuit said, it was decided she could no longer work at the school.
Quinlan's attorney, Siegal says after his client received her termination letter dated December 31, she received a second letter stating her health insurance will be terminated one month later.
"The Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects the rights of women to have children without fear of being terminated as a result," Siegal explained.
We called the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and spokesman Dan Andriacco said Quinlan violated her contract that requires employees to "comply with and act consistently in accordance with the stated philosophy and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church."
"That morality clause conflicts with the Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act, or Title 7. It can't be enforced against her in such a way that she loses her job," said Siegal.
ABC 22 News asked the community how they felt about Quinlan's termination.
"There's a lot of women in the world that are unmarried or those that have been in relationships and have gotten pregnant before marriage, from what I've always been told, we are all God's children, no matter what and that everybody should be accepted and not ridiculed," said Carianne Chase of Kettering.
"You should be married before you have children, but stuff happens, but I still feel like that's wrong. I feel bad for her, the lady that lost her job because it's hard to find work," said Ms. Taylor from Dayton.
Quinlan is seeking back pay from the date of her termination and compensation for emotional distress and other alleged damages.
Siegal says she wants an award of "punitive damages to punish and deter Ascension School and Archdiocese of Cincinnati from engaging in discriminatory activity."
Kathleen Quinlan of Kettering says officials terminated her employment because she was pregnant and not married.
The lawsuit was filed December 14 by her attorneys Mary Lentz and Micah M. Siegal from Gottschlich and Portune, LLP.
Quinlan was hired July 25, 2011, and started work August 11, 2011. She got pregnant in the fall of 2011, with twin girls, according to the lawsuit.
In December 2011, when she started showing her pregnancy she felt it was necessary to tell her bosses. On December 29, 2011, she met with Principal Brett Devitt and told him about her pregnancy and offered to take a "behind-the-scenes" role at Ascension until she gave birth, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit further states Devitt told her "Ascension would do everything possible to support her but needed to confer with Father Worland and the Archdiocese regarding the issue."
"She recommended the behind-the-scenes role and they said you can either resign or we'll fire you," said Siegal.
Later in the day, the lawsuit said, it was decided she could no longer work at the school.
Quinlan's attorney, Siegal says after his client received her termination letter dated December 31, she received a second letter stating her health insurance will be terminated one month later.
"The Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects the rights of women to have children without fear of being terminated as a result," Siegal explained.
We called the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and spokesman Dan Andriacco said Quinlan violated her contract that requires employees to "comply with and act consistently in accordance with the stated philosophy and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church."
"That morality clause conflicts with the Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act, or Title 7. It can't be enforced against her in such a way that she loses her job," said Siegal.
ABC 22 News asked the community how they felt about Quinlan's termination.
"There's a lot of women in the world that are unmarried or those that have been in relationships and have gotten pregnant before marriage, from what I've always been told, we are all God's children, no matter what and that everybody should be accepted and not ridiculed," said Carianne Chase of Kettering.
"You should be married before you have children, but stuff happens, but I still feel like that's wrong. I feel bad for her, the lady that lost her job because it's hard to find work," said Ms. Taylor from Dayton.
Quinlan is seeking back pay from the date of her termination and compensation for emotional distress and other alleged damages.
Siegal says she wants an award of "punitive damages to punish and deter Ascension School and Archdiocese of Cincinnati from engaging in discriminatory activity."