Friday, September 18, 2009

Catholic schools seek women’s law exemption

Catholic schools seek women’s law exemption

MANILA, Philippines — Insisting on their religious and academic freedoms, Catholic educational institutions are seeking exemption from a provision in the new Magna Carta of Women banning the dismissal of unwed mothers from employment or school.

Monsignor Gerardo Santos, national president of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), said the CEAP would ask that a provision on such an exemption be inserted into the new law’s implementing rules and regulations...

Santos insisted on the Catholic schools’ right to have an unwed pregnant student or employee go on leave “after due process,” or to enforce other disciplinary action.

I am no big fan of the Magna Carta for Women, although I think this particular provision protecting unwed mothers from being dismissed from employment or school deserves some merit.

First of all, it is unlawful to terminate unwed mothers in the workforce. Articles 279/282 of the Labor Code allows termination only on the basis of authorized and just causes. However, the company might have a morality clause in the rules or in the contract of employment, and such a clause may be cited as a basis for terminating unwed mothers. While I am all for safeguarding the sanctity of marriage, dismissing unwed mothers is far from being a charitable pastoral tool towards this end. What the unwed mother needs is fraternal correction, moral guidance, opportunities for conversion, compassion, and a decent livelihood to support herself and the person she is nurturing in her womb.
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2 comments:

aeisiel said...

Hi Willy, this is another article where the secular media stir-up the public to bash the Church by twisting the truth. CEAP was merely asking for a provision to be inserted into the new law’s implementing rules and regulations.
The Monsignor didn’t say that unwed pregnant employee/ student would be terminated/ dismissed but go on leave "after due process," or to enforce other disciplinary action.
Any institution or organization has a right to discipline their members especially when they commit an immoral act.

WillyJ said...

They should have clarified what the Monsignor said. Another bad publicity we don't need nor deserve.