- Feb 5, 2002
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(OSV News) — A New York diocese and a former Catholic school teacher have agreed to an apparent settlement, months after the teacher was fired for allegedly having an adult same-sex relationship.
Magistrate Judge James W. Wicks issued an Oct. 14 order in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York stating that a planned Oct. 22 conference would be adjourned, since the Diocese of Rockville Centre and Michael Califano reported “a settlement in principle has been achieved” in their legal battle.
Califano, who taught third grade at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, New York, was terminated from his position at the school on Dec. 27, 2023, by the diocese. He filed a federal suit against the diocese in June, alleging his rights were violated under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The diocese had unsuccessfully argued in September that the case should be dismissed in light of recent Supreme Court rulings on church governance, but Wicks found the arguments unpersuasive.
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
Magistrate Judge James W. Wicks issued an Oct. 14 order in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York stating that a planned Oct. 22 conference would be adjourned, since the Diocese of Rockville Centre and Michael Califano reported “a settlement in principle has been achieved” in their legal battle.
Califano, who taught third grade at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, New York, was terminated from his position at the school on Dec. 27, 2023, by the diocese. He filed a federal suit against the diocese in June, alleging his rights were violated under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The diocese had unsuccessfully argued in September that the case should be dismissed in light of recent Supreme Court rulings on church governance, but Wicks found the arguments unpersuasive.
Reasons for termination
Continued below.
New York diocese settles with teacher
Following news of the proposed settlement, the Diocese of Rockville Centre told OSV News it had "nothing to add" to a statement by Califano's attorneys, which said that Califano, the school and the diocese "have agreed to an amicable resolution.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
