Mark Richards, a committed music educator at St. Francis Xavier School in Metairie, Louisiana, has experienced his firing on June 25, 2023. His firing came after the public found out about his marriage to his late husband through an obituary. The abrupt termination has raised questions regarding the school’s adherence to its own policies. It opens the gate to key questions on morality clauses found in employment contracts and religious education schools.
Richards had given 21 years of his life teaching kids at the now-closed Catholic school. He was eventually fired once a parent alerted the administration to the fact that John Messinger’s obituary. The obituary listed Richards as Messinger’s husband, which prompted school officials to act on the morality clause in Richards’ employment contract. This clause prohibits educators from “contracting a marriage in violation of the rules of the Catholic church” and “actively engaging in homosexual activity.”
Richards was a veteran of being openly gay long before this moment and approached the topic with sharp wit. In fact, he joked there might have been “a wink and a nudge” when he signed the morality clause, which all archdiocese teachers were required to sign. The disclosure of his interracial marriage brought his news hire’s sudden departure.
The St. Francis Xavier community has been very supportive of Richards. Jake was seen by countless parents and students as “a shining light of kindness and compassion” in their lives. A Change.org petition created in support of Richards has collected nearly 1,500 signatures so far, with signers calling his termination “unjust.”
Rick English, a parent at the school, expressed his discontent with the morality clause, stating, “To me, it’s a social injustice at this point.” English is adamant that we need to look at the policies creating the clause. This is incredibly important for fostering inclusivity and protecting human rights.
Richards’ termination has sparked discussion around the morality clause and the clause itself. In an interview about her role with the parent-led petition, Katheryn Lee—a mom whose children attend Philadelphia’s Mastery Schools—described how the language in these contracts shocked her. She stated, “I would like to see the morality clause change,” specifically calling for the removal of the line regarding homosexuality. Lee’s key message was powerful—“your identity is not your morality.” He wishes for parents’ voices to be at the forefront of this debate.
In response to inquiries about Richards’ dismissal, school officials provided a brief statement: “This decision is final and will not be revisited. We strive to always make decisions that uphold the teachings of the Catholic faith that are in the best interest of our school.”
The conditions under which Richards was fired have been received with dismay by everyone who knew him. In announcing the news, he couldn’t hide his disappointment, calling the move, “It’s truly a stab in the back.” Richards looked back on his time as a teacher. His final words were, “Teaching your children has been one of the joys of my life, and I have treasured the memories.”
Richards had married Messinger in 2019. The couple fought these battles together until Messinger’s sudden death from a heart attack in September 2023. Their growing transgressive relationship was welcomed with open arms by many in the community of St. Francis Xavier.