Alexis Lowder hasn’t decided on whether she plans to file a lawsuit after Emporia’s Sacred Heart School terminated her employment for helping to organize Emporia’s Vote No rally on an abortion regulation constitutional amendment.
If she does, her legal course of action may be more difficult than others. Schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, including Sacred Heart, require their teachers to either be practicing Catholics or, if they are not practicing or are from other faiths, “conduct themselves at all times, in and out of school, in a manner consistent with established Catholic teachings and moral standards.” And staff must sign an agreement to that end.
A statement on the diocese’s website, www.archkck.org, says employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of age, race, color, disability, national origin or gender — unless the gender is in conflict with Catholic moral teachings.
Lowder says she was a practicing Catholic who initially believed in the Church’s position on abortion but came to change her mind after listening to a co-worker who had an at-risk pregnancy. By the time she accepted a music teacher position at Sacred Heart a year ago, Lowder’s mindset had completely changed and she had raised money for the Kansas Abortion Fund.
Lowder tells KVOE News she was initially concerned about taking the position, but she says she felt comfortable teaching music at the school. She also says she doesn’t regret taking the position.
Sacred Heart Principal Ali Geitz says the school cannot comment on personnel matters.
House Concurrent Resolution 5003, otherwise known as the Value Them Both Amendment, was defeated across Kansas with nearly 60 percent of voters against the amendment. A limited recount including Lyon County and eight others led to no change in the overall result and barely any change in the vote total. A funder of the recount effort has said he will not accept the results from Sedgwick County and is considering a lawsuit for a statewide recount.
