Indianapolis Archbishop Issues Letter On Suspended Counselor

Associated Press

The Indianapolis Archdiocese posted online Tuesday a letter from the Most Rev. Charles Thompson saying teachers and guidance counselors are ministers of the faith.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis archbishop has addressed the controversy over a Catholic high school guidance counselor suspended after her same-sex marriage became known, saying she's a minister of the church called to share in its mission.

The Indianapolis Archdiocese posted online Tuesday a letter from the Most Rev. Charles Thompson saying teachers and guidance counselors are ministers of the faith who must lead by word and example and whose obligations "are clearly spelled out in school ministerial job descriptions and contracts."

Indianapolis Roncalli High School counselor Shelly Fitzgerald has been placed on administrative leave. She's worked for the school for 15 years and has been with her partner for 22 years. She says she's hired an attorney.

Thompson says the church considers marriage "a permanent partnership between one man and one woman."

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