NEWS has just come to light that a teacher at a Catholic school in Fort Dodge, Iowa, has been fired after saying in a Facebook survey she did not believe in God.
Administrators of St Edmond Catholic School fired Abby Nurre, 27, late last year, just months after she was hired as an eighth-grade math teacher.
The Des Moines Register reported yesterday that in August, she responded “No” to a Facebook members’ poll in which she was asked whether she believed in God, miracles or heaven.
In November, Nurre posted a comment to the online discussion forum Atheist Nexus.
Nurre was fired in December. In her defense in January, she told the school board teachers are taxpayers who are entitled to think.
She later said she was not an atheist, and that her opinions on such things constantly change.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
May 29th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Have look at this:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/r.....8_ST_N.htm
After she was fired her former employer unsuccessfully tried to persuade the authorities not to pay unemployment benefit. That’s really nasty, as if getting fired wasn’t bad enough. Xian twats.
The judge ruled the school had FAILED TO PROVE MISCONDUCT so she got her money. It suggests to me religious schools in the US are able to arbitrarily sack any staff member they disapprove of. You have to wonder if there’s more to come of this story.
Having said that, if I were her I’d have kept my opinions to myself knowing who was paying my wages. I may write here under a pseudonym but do not assume anonymity, not on the internet.
May 29th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Hmmm…
2 things. If this woman is 27 years old and has a “constantly changing” opinion on the existence of God, something I was able to make my mind up about at the age of 14 (the age of one of her students), then its probably good that she isn’t teaching 8th graders anymore.
Also: Should we be surprised that a Catholic school fired a woman for saying she didn’t believe in God or miracles? Sounds like they acted in accordance with their principles on this one.
May 29th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Personally I wouldn’t want to work for such people in the first place but that’s just me.
May 29th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
“Sounds like they acted in accordance with their principles on this one.”
Unless she was teaching Religious Education specifically, it’s not actually a Catholic principle that she not be allowed to be employed by them. This was just vindictiveness, as demonstrated by them going out of their way to try to prevent her gaining unemployment benefit (they want her to starve? That’s barbaric). Though I suppose Catholic teaching is fairly well acquainted with a vindictive streak.
May 29th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Broadsword said:
“You have to wonder if there’s more to come of this story.”
Oh, yes, count on it. I live in Idaho, an “at will” state, and basically the state law says that an employer can fire you for any reason, EXCEPT those forbidden by federal law. Those being: Race, color, creed, religion, or sexual preference.
I don’t know the laws in Iowa, but, they are moot. Federal law prohibits employers from firing someone for their religious beliefs. The burden of proof in cases like these lands on the complaintant, and the church has lots of money and the best lawyers. Unless she feels like being a trail blazer or a martyr, she is probably better off going and finding a job setting where she fits.
As far as changing viewpoints, mine do to some degree every day, as well. It’s called learning.
NeoWolfe
May 29th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Of course if she’d diddled a child they would have just transferred her to another school. It’s only for heinous crimes like saying you don’t believe in god or having lesbian parents that you get the boot.
May 30th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Yes, Catholics can be vindictive. General de Gaulle had several journalists harassed for years, including upsetting their marriages, because they informed France, against his will, of the May ’68 riots that were taking place in Paris. You won’t find it in school history books though.