"My Faith Comes First"—This Catholic Immigrant was Fired after Refusing to Teach a Class about Contraceptives

Leah Marieann Klett : Dec 27, 2016
Gospel Herald

The incident occurred in June 2016, when Palma, an immigrant from Guatemala, worked as a health educator at LCH, a clinic for low-income patients in Houston's inner city.

[Gospel Herald] A young Catholic immigrant who was fired from her job in healthcare for being unwilling to promote contraception may finally receive justice, thanks to the efforts of First Liberty Institute. (Photo: First Liberty/via Gospel Herald)

According to a press release shared with the Gospel Herald, First Liberty, the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans, on Wednesday filed a complaint on behalf of Alexia Palma charging her employers with religious discrimination.

The incident occurred in June 2016, when Palma, an immigrant from Guatemala, worked as a health educator at LCH, a clinic for low-income patients in Houston's inner city.

"I emigrated from Guatemala to America as a child," Palma said. "Finding this job, where I could serve those in need in my community, was my American dream come true. "

While she taught a number of health classes, as a devout Catholic, Palma asked her supervisors if she could refrain from teaching a class about contraception, and instead show a video on birth control. Her supervisors agreed, and the arrangement worked for a while—until Palma was placed under new management.

A short time later, Ms. Amy Leonard, the Vice President of the Public Health Department at LCH, gave Palma an ultimatum—"put aside" her religious beliefs or be...

Continue reading here.