Cape Coral woman banned from teaching
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| Thu, 06-24-2004 - 1:49pm |
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=33214
By Associated Press
Thursday, June 24, 2004
FORT MYERS, Fla. - A 62-year-old Cape Coral woman who married her lesbian partner in Massachusetts was banned from teaching in the Christian Science church after she refused to ``repent'' for her actions.
Kathleen Clementson returned her teaching credentials and left the church. Her former students are now considered by the Christian Science board of directors to have had no primary instruction.
Clementson married Suzanne Nightingale, 49, on a Cape Cod beach on May 20, before Massachusetts began enforcing a ban on gay marriages by out-of-state couples. The women have since bought a town house in that state, and said they plan to move there.
An Associated Press photo taken at the service was sent to newspapers around the world, and many people recognized Clementson's name in connection with the church, she said.
The church sent Clementson a letter in early June saying she had abused her role as a teacher, but did not define the abuse. The letter directed her to cut ties with former students, and said she could teach again only if she repented and served a three-year probation.
``They were not specific,'' Clementson said. ``I don't feel I have anything to repent for more than anyone else.''
The Boston-based church said Thursday it was preparing a statement about the incident which it planned to release by the end of the day. A local governing board member said the Christian Science Church of Cape Coral will abide by the Mother Church's decision.
Clementson's former students who are now church-approved practitioners can no longer advertise their services in the Christian Science Journal, or take annual refresher courses.
But few people will be seriously affected by the board's decision, Clementson said.
A former student, Hal Gimlin, of North Carolina, said he will maintain his relationship with Clementson - and the church.
``I love my religion,'' he said. ``I'm not thrilled with what is going on. I think they overdid it.''

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;-)
>>I addressed it, now how about addressing her free choice which you still haven't done. She knowingly took a job for an organization that believe HS is a sin.<<
Plenty of people have issue with an aspect of their religion and choose to work to change it. I can see how she would believe in her faith and believe she can help bring about change. It would be different if she were incompetent, etc... doesn't sound like it. And I doubt she tried to pass on her views to anyone else.
>"they protect their priests from legitimate molestation charges"<
Makes no sense, does it? The longer I live the more I become disillusioned in organized religion. What happened to tolerance, mercy.......?
I never said it was right, but it would most likely be legal.
What happened to tolerance, mercy.......?
They ended up on the wayside in the quest for dominance & power.
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