Teacher sacked for sexing up Catholicism
-07/09/05
A 38 year-old religious education teacher has been sacked because her ìsexyî appearance caused Catholic officials and school staff in the central Adriatic city of Fano to get too hot and bothered, claim newspapers in northern Italy.
The case of Caterina Bonci, who has been teaching the Catholic faith to primary school children since 1991, has created a minor media storm ñ with accusations and counter-accusations flying between Church authorities and commentators.
According to the local diocese Ms Bonci (described in one paper as a ìleggy, long-haired blondeî) was fired because of her divorce in 2000, which contravenes Church teaching.
But the teacher herself, who is appealing for re-instatement, says that the authorities have known about this for some time, and that the real reason is her appearance.
The headmaster at her former school, Don Alcide Baldelli, confirmed that some parents and teachers had complained about Bonci because she would ìturn up in a miniskirtî.
Ms Bonci declared: ìI have always been attacked by staff members who have never looked kindly on me because of my looks. If you add to that the fact that it was often the dads who wanted to come and see me, itís easy to understand why I have always been the focus of attention and the victim of gossips.î
She added: ìThey shouldnít treat me like this after 14 years of teaching. It’s pure nastiness.î She explained that she had also made great personal sacrifices for her job.
Womenís groups have defended Ms Bonci, attacking the way that the teacher has been physically stereotyped in reporting, as well as what they believe to be the misogyny of the Church authorities.
Teacher sacked for sexing up Catholicism
-07/09/05
A 38 year-old religious education teacher has been sacked because her ‘sexy’ appearance caused Catholic officials and school staff in the central Adriatic city of Fano to get too hot and bothered, claim newspapers in northern Italy.
The case of Caterina Bonci, who has been teaching the Catholic faith to primary school children since 1991, has created a minor media storm – with accusations and counter-accusations flying between Church authorities and commentators.
According to the local diocese Ms Bonci (described in one paper as a ‘leggy, long-haired blonde’) was fired because of her divorce in 2000, which contravenes Church teaching.
But the teacher herself, who is appealing for re-instatement, says that the authorities have known about this for some time, and that the real reason is her appearance.
The headmaster at her former school, Don Alcide Baldelli, confirmed that some parents and teachers had complained about Bonci because she would ‘turn up in a miniskirt’.
Ms Bonci declared: ‘I have always been attacked by staff members who have never looked kindly on me because of my looks. If you add to that the fact that it was often the dads who wanted to come and see me, it’s easy to understand why I have always been the focus of attention and the victim of gossips.’
She added: ‘They shouldn’t treat me like this after 14 years of teaching. It’s pure nastiness.’ She explained that she had also made great personal sacrifices for her job.
Women’s groups have defended Ms Bonci, attacking the way that the teacher has been physically stereotyped in reporting, as well as what they believe to be the misogyny of the Church authorities.