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Head of Seattle Catholic school resigns after dismissal of gay vice-president Head of Seattle Catholic school resigns after dismissal of gay vice-principal
(34 minutes later)
The president and CEO of a Seattle-area Catholic school, embattled by its recent dismissal of a gay vice-principal, has resigned. The president and CEO of a Catholic school in Seattle, has resigned in the wake of its recent dismissal of a gay vice-principal.
Sister Mary Tracy's departure was announced by Eastside Catholic high school’s board of trustees in an email on Tuesday evening. “Sister Mary came to this decision after much prayer and reflection. For Sister Mary it was a difficult, but necessary decision so that a new leader can be brought in to ensure the entire Eastside Catholic community is moving forward on a positive path.”Sister Mary Tracy's departure was announced by Eastside Catholic high school’s board of trustees in an email on Tuesday evening. “Sister Mary came to this decision after much prayer and reflection. For Sister Mary it was a difficult, but necessary decision so that a new leader can be brought in to ensure the entire Eastside Catholic community is moving forward on a positive path.”
Tracy was intimately involved in the departure in December of Mark Zmuda, a gay vice-principal who married his partner last summer. Zmuda has always insisted he was dismissed, and Tracy at first claimed responsibility for the decision. His departure led to a mass protest by hundreds of students, who walked out of class and rallied in suport of Zmuda. Tracy was closely involved in the departure in December of Mark Zmuda, a vice-principal who married his partner last summer. Zmuda has always insisted he was dismissed, and Tracy at first claimed responsibility for the decision. His departure led to a mass protest by hundreds of students, who walked out of class and rallied in suport of Zmuda.
"To set the record straight, I was terminated," Zmuda said in a YouTube student interview. "They said it was because I was married to a man and violated Catholic teaching." In the video interview, Zmuda claimed Tracy said he could divorce his partner and have a civil commitment ceremony in the hopes of keeping his job. "To set the record straight, I was terminated," Zmuda said in a YouTube student interview. "They said it was because I was married to a man and violated Catholic teaching." In the video interview, Zmuda claimed Tracy said he could divorce his partner and have a civil commitment ceremony in the hopes of keeping his job. 
Michael Patterson, an attorney who represents Eastside Catholic and the archdiocese, told the Guardian in a December interview that Zmuda had resigned. Claiming the school’s first amendment rights to practice its religion, Patterson disputed the validity of an earlier school communication indicating that Zmuda had been terminated. Michael Patterson, an attorney who represents Eastside Catholic and the archdiocese, told the Guardian in a December interview that Zmuda had resigned. Claiming the school’s first amendment rights to practise its religion, Patterson disputed the validity of an earlier school communication indicating that Zmuda's contract had been terminated.
Student protestors have been rallying Eastside Catholic alumni and their peers at other area Catholic schools to pressure the board to reinstate Zmuda. The protest has drawn the support of Seattle mayor-elect Ed Murray, a gay Catholic married to his partner, who appeared at a December student protest in support of Zmuda.  Student protesters have been rallying Eastside Catholic alumni and their peers at other area Catholic schools to pressure the board to reinstate Zmuda. The protest has drawn the support of the Seattle mayor-elect, Ed Murray, a gay Catholic married to his partner, who appeared at a December student protest in support of Zmuda. 
Sister Tracy's resignation comes in advance of an annual fundraiser called the Festival of Light, which is held by the Fulcrum Foundation for a variety of Catholic schools, including Eastside. Students plan to hand out buttons outside the event in support of Zmuda.  Sister Tracy's resignation came in advance of an annual fundraiser called the Festival of Light, which is held by the Fulcrum Foundation for a variety of Catholic schools, including Eastside. Students plan to hand out buttons outside the event in support of Zmuda. 
On 31 January, students plan a #ZDAY event in which supporters will wear orange, stand in silence for a minute at 1pm, and post selfies on Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks before gathering at St Joseph’s Parish that evening for discussions and rallies. On 31 January, students plan a #ZDAY event in which supporters will wear orange, stand in silence for a minute at 1pm, and post selfies on Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks before gathering at St Joseph’s parish that evening for discussions and rallies.
“The fact that Sister Mary has resigned gives us hope that he will soon be rehired,” said student organizer Julia Burns, 18, a senior at Eastside. “He’s made it clear he would take his job back in a heartbeat, so we’re working hard for that.”“The fact that Sister Mary has resigned gives us hope that he will soon be rehired,” said student organizer Julia Burns, 18, a senior at Eastside. “He’s made it clear he would take his job back in a heartbeat, so we’re working hard for that.”
Eastside Catholic is part of a middle and high school located in Sammamish, Washington: voters in the state approved same-sex marriages in last year’s Referendum 74. In response, Seattle Archbishop J Peter Sartain, who actively campaigned against gay marriage, prohibited Catholic churches, facilities and schools from taking part in such ceremonies. Eastside Catholic is part of a middle and high school located in Sammamish, Washington: voters in the state approved same-sex marriages in last year’s Referendum 74. In response, the Seattle archbishop, J Peter Sartain, who actively campaigned against gay marriage, prohibited Catholic churches, facilities and schools from taking part in such ceremonies.
Patterson, the school's attorney, did not dispute the legality of Zmuda’s marriage, but said his actions violated the contract requiring employees to uphold Catholic teaching. Faith-based and secular employers are treated differently when it comes to complying with US anti-discrimination laws. Patterson, the school's attorney, did not dispute the legality of Zmuda’s marriage, but said his actions violated the contract requiring employees to uphold Catholic teaching. Faith-based and secular employers are treated differently when it comes to complying with US anti-discrimination laws. 
In an email calling for broader community support of Zmuda and the students, Michael Bunney, who organizes the LGBTQ community of the Seattle-based St Joseph’s parish, wrote that Eastside Catholic is inconsistent with “a policy that is selectively enforced against gay faculty but not against straight employees who are divorced or living together out of wedlock”. In an email calling for broader community support of Zmuda and the students, Michael Bunney, who organizes the LGBTQ community of the Seattle-based St Joseph’s parish, wrote that Eastside Catholic was inconsistent with “a policy that is selectively enforced against gay faculty but not against straight employees who are divorced or living together out of wedlock”.
St Joseph’s parish is led by Father John Whitney, who posted a public letter in support of the Eastside students. He wrote that Pope Francis "calls today’s Church to a fearless proclamation of Christ and the Gospel, even though trying to understand such a proclamation may lead us to conflict and disruption". St Joseph’s parish is led by Father John Whitney, who posted a public letter in support of the Eastside students. He wrote that Pope Francis "calls today’s church to a fearless proclamation of Christ and the gospel, even though trying to understand such a proclamation may lead us to conflict and disruption".
Tracy is a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary and was dean of students and principal of Holy Names Academy in Seattle from 1975 to 1995, according to Eastside Catholic’s website, which also credits her for serving as the National Catholic Educational Association’s director of advancement services, providing "consulting services to hundreds of schools across the nation".Tracy is a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary and was dean of students and principal of Holy Names Academy in Seattle from 1975 to 1995, according to Eastside Catholic’s website, which also credits her for serving as the National Catholic Educational Association’s director of advancement services, providing "consulting services to hundreds of schools across the nation".