Catholic school director who used IVF to get pregnant fired for not having husband weeks before giving birth
A Catholic middle school director who had used IVF in order to get pregnant has reportedly been axed from work as she is not married.
According to the friends of Michelle Gabriel, the former director of Maryknoll Middle School in Hawaii said the 8-month pregnant mother to be was asked to step down from her position last month. She was fired as she was expecting a baby without having a husband. As reported by Hawaii News Now, a family friend shared that Gabriel had undergone in vitro fertilization and had told the school she was pregnant when she hit 4 months.
On Wednesday, around two dozen alum from the school lined up outside to show their support for Gabriel. A former student at the school, Merlinda Garma, shared with the Star-Advertiser that the school had even thrown her a baby shower. "And then they’re like, 'You need to leave'. You’re also hurting the baby. What did the baby do to you?" Garma said.
One rally attendee, Jeremy Irvine, revealed "this is not the Maryknoll we grew up in. Maryknoll is an inclusive community, all about love, family, community, so for this to happen to one of our own, it’s just heartbreaking. We just want the truth and for the school to come out and be transparent in their decision," he shared.
Gabriel who has worked for the school for around 16 years was also present at the rally but was reportedly not allowed to comment. In a statement, the school said, "We understand there are people who are upset over the departure of Miss Gabriel. Miss Gabriel chose to leave by agreement and was represented by counsel in making that decision."
It also seems like her dismissal was totally legal given a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that decided that federal discrimination laws do not apply to religious institutions when it comes to choosing their leaders.