Judge Rules Church Can Fire Teacher For Out-of-Wedlock Pregnancy

Jen Chung

Published Jul 30, 2008

Modified Jul 30, 2008

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Jen Chung

Published Jul 30, 2008

Modified Jul 30, 2008

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A Brooklyn woman's claim that she was unfairly fired from a Seventh-Day Adventist church's school for being pregnant--and unmarried--was quashed by a federal judge yesterday. Back in 2001, Jewel Redhead was fired from the Linden Seventh Adventist Church's school since she "violated one of the basic precepts" by having sex before marriage (and apparently not marrying the baby's father). While Redhead was trying to argue the school violated state and federal law for discrimination, the Post reports the judge said since Redhead was supposed to discuss religion as well in her teachings, "that made her more like a clergy member than a regular school teacher"--and therefore the church is free to fire her. Redhead, who is still single and teachers in Brooklyn, plans to appeal.