Same-sex marriage could cost Catholic school counselor job

A guidance counselor at an Indianapolis Catholic school could lose her job after administrators learned that she was married to a woman.

Roncalli High School President Joseph D. Hollowell told The Indianapolis Star in an email Monday that Shelly Fitzgerald has been placed on administrative leave. Fitzgerald worked for the school for 15 years and has been with her partner for 22 years. She said she's hired an attorney.

The school responded to criticism of its stance with a Facebook post saying in part that "the personal conduct of every teacher, guidance counselor and administrator and staff member, both at school and away from school, must convey and be supportive of the teachings of the Catholic Church."

The school said those "expectations are clearly defined in school employee contracts and ministerial job descriptions so every employee can make an informed decision regarding their employment prior to the start of each program year and before signing the annual contract. When the expectations of a contract are not being met, the employee and the school will attempt to reach a resolution so that the contractual requirements are fulfilled."

A protest took place Monday at the school, WRTV reported.