Sacked Catholic teacher who revealed anti-abortion views to class sues school for discrimination

A Catholic teacher who informed a class about her opposition to abortion and support of Donald Trump is taking legal action after being sacked by her school.

Sarah Morse said pupils at Arbroath High School in Scotland had questioned her about her pro-life and gender-critical views, as well as her backing of the Republican president.

Although the American-raised history tutor informed students it was “fine to disagree” with her, Ms Morse told The Sunday Times her employment at the school was terminated the following day without consultation.

Now Ms Morse is preparing to take the school, which is run by Angus Council, to court, citing discrimination.

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Ms Morse said she was “stunned” after losing her job, simply because she had “talked about religion and abortion”.

“When I was summoned to the office (to meet with a member of the senior leadership team), I thought it was to go through paperwork and school procedures, such as fire drills, after accepting an extension to my contract,” Ms Morse stated.

“Instead, I was summarily dismissed … I was not offered any sort of right of reply, asked for my account of what happened, or how my legally protected beliefs were raised in the context of a history class, and the head teacher wouldn’t even see me.”

However, despite arguing she was “just answering questions”, Ms Morse claims she was told “the head (teacher) is not having it”.

"At no time did I attempt to persuade any student to adopt my position," Ms Morse added. “I taught them that it is possible to have hard conversations with respect and that disagreement is a natural part of a free society.

“To be ‘cancelled’ and lose my livelihood because of my religious identity is a terrifying precedent for the teaching profession in Scotland.”

Having been raised in Georgia in the US, Ms Morse taught textiles in England before moving to British Columbia in Canada and completing a degree in teaching.

In 2018, Ms Morse returned to the UK with her husband, David Burroughs, as she was feeling “homesick”.

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However, Ms Morse said life after being fired from Arbroath High School has been a “nightmare” and vowed never to teach in Britain again.

Michael Robinson, Executive Director of Society For The Protection Of Unborn Children, which is supporting Ms Morse’s legal bid against the school, commented: “The dismissal of a teacher for respectfully answering a student’s question truthfully according to her conscience is a grave matter. Government guidelines on political impartiality in the classroom do not prohibit the mention of a teacher’s legally protected beliefs, provided there is no attempt to persuade.”

A spokesman for Angus Council said in a statement: “This matter is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment.”

An employment tribunal is due to take place on August 24.

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