SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey’s Supreme Court has ruled a Catholic school was justified in firing an unmarried teacher who became pregnant.
When elementary school teacher Victoria Crisitello informed administrators at St. Theresa School in Kenilworth she was pregnant in 2014, she was fired a few weeks later.
Crisitello sued the school, claiming she had been discriminated against because she was pregnant outside of wedlock. The school countered she agreed to abide by its code of ethics when she was hired, which she violated.
The state Supreme Court unanimously decided in favor of school administrators. The ruling ultimately confirmed it is not unlawful for a religious employer to uphold the tenets of its beliefs, which Crisitello signed an agreement to follow when she was hired.
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School attorney Peter Verniero said this is a significant validation of St Teresa’s rights as a religious school, and he noted no evidence of discrimination was found.
Representatives from the ACLU of New Jersey said while previous decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court have provided broad latitude for religious hiring and firing, they are still disappointed with the decision and believe Crisitello was entitled to more protection.
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