Carla Hale was terminated immediately after her mother died

Apr 30, 2013 09:38 GMT  ·  By

A teacher fired from a Catholic high school in Ohio is fighting for reinstatement and plans to lodge a complaint for discrimination at the work place.

According to NBC News, Carla Hale was terminated from her 19-year employment with the Bishop Watterson Catholic High School in Columbus immediately after her mother died.

A parent sent school officials a copy of the obituary written by Hale and her brother, and it included a reference to her life partner.

“Personnel who choose to publicly espouse relationships or principles that are contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church cannot, ultimately, remain in the employ of the Church,” the school said in a statement.

Hale has asked the central Ohio board of Catholic educators for her job back but was denied reinstatement.

She is not only appealing said decision, but she is now planning to contact the Columbus community relations department and request an inquiry on discrimination at the school.

“I've committed my 19-year professional career to one thing, ensuring that our next generation achieves its full potential.

“I love my job, I don't want money, I don't want fame, I simply want to return to Bishop Watterson,” she says.

Students are backing her up, and have filed a petition to gather support for her cause. The petition, posted to Change.org, has already gathered over 100,000 signatures.

“She was a teacher who cared for her students and treated each one with respect. The school, however, did not reciprocate that respect in its treatment of her.

“Discrimination and injustice is something that we all have a duty to fight in today's society. It's unfair that someone who cared so much about her students and her job should lose them on the basis of something she cannot even control,” it reads.