New Jersey court upholds dismissal of Catholic school teacher for premarital sex

-Teacher, Victoria Crisitello, had sued the school for discrimination and violation of New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law

TRENTON, New Jersey – The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Catholic school that fired an unmarried pregnant teacher in 2014.

The teacher, Victoria Crisitello, had sued the school for discrimination and violation of New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law.

The state Supreme Court ruled that the firing was legal because the law provides an exception for religious organizations.

The unanimous ruling said the exemption clause was intended to allow religious organizations to “follow the tenets of their religion in establishing and applying criteria for employment.”

The court said employees were required to abide by the rules of the Catholic Church, which included abstaining from premarital sex.

The ruling has been criticized by civil rights groups, which argue that it could lead to discrimination against workers who do not adhere to an employer’s religious beliefs.

In New Jersey, an estimated 7,455 teachers are employed in Catholic schools.

The court’s decision would apply to all those teachers.

Crisitello’s attorney, Thomas McKinney, said he is considering appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

St. Theresa School argued Crisitello’s pregnancy violated the terms of her employment agreement, which required “employees to adhere to the teachings of the Catholic Church and refrain from premarital sex,” court documents say.

“We are pleased that the Supreme Court upheld the rights of religious employers to act consistent with their religious tenets, and that St. Theresa School did so here,” Peter G. Verniero, the attorney for the St. Theresa School said in a statement quoted by CNN.