Roncalli High School

For the second time, a federal appeals court ruled that the Archdiocese of Indianapolis did not violate discrimination laws when it fired a school counselor in 2018 for being in a same-sex marriage.

A federal appeals court ruled the Archdiocese of Indianapolis acted within the law when it fired a long-time counselor because she is in a same-sex marriage.

A judge ruled in favor of Roncalli High School and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in a discrimination lawsuit last week, but the plaintiff's lawyer is filing an appeal of the decision.

According to Ronalli High Schools website, the nickname was in homage to John XXIII, who was referred to by some in the church as a rebel. But Confederate imagery was eventually connected to the Roncalli Rebels.

The federal lawsuit filed by Shelly Fitzgerald alleges that she was discriminated against and faced retaliation because of her sexual orientation.

School officials at Cathedral High School said this week the archbishop made clear it had to cut ties with the teacher or separate from the Catholic Church.

Some lawmakers want to keep state money out of schools with openly discriminatory policies, in response to the ongoing controversy over Roncalli High School putting an employee on administrative leave because of her marriage to a woman.

Shelly Fitzgerald took the first step to file a discrimination lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and Roncalli High School.

A second school employee filed a discrimination charge against Roncalli High School and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis Friday.

Fitzgerald says the lawsuit is not for personal gain but to spark policy reform.