Diocese says ousted Padua principal won't meet with them

The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington says it wants to come to a peaceful resolution to the ouster of Padua Academy's principal, Cindy Mann, but said she won't meet with them.

"For the past several days the Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, Bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington, has been working behind the scenes in conversation with leadership from the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and several members of the Padua Academy Advisory Board in efforts to resolve this painful and divisive situation," says a statement released Wednesday morning by the diocese.

"At the request of Bishop Malooly, Oblate leadership invited Mrs. Cindy Mann and Father Nicholas Waseline to sit down with an independent mediator in the hopes of beginning a conversation toward reconciliation. Father Waseline responded favorably to this invitation; Mrs. Mann did not. Moreover, because Mrs. Mann has indicated that she intends to file a lawsuit, it appears that further conversation with her is not possible at this time. Bishop Malooly continues to be hopeful for the possibility of reconciliation."

Mann's attorney Thomas Neuberger thought the statement was ridiculous.

"My client Cindy Mann was not born yesterday," he said. "Both the Diocese and the Oblates have a well-documented history of bullying negotiation tactics. Cindy now has an attorney and the Diocese and Oblates' lawyers know my telephone number. They will have to deal through me if they are interested."

A letter sent to families on Friday said Mann would no longer be serving as head of school and that Vice Principal Mary McClory would serve as acting principal for the foreseeable future.

On Tuesday, Neuberger said, "the reasons given for the termination of Cindy are really a pretext for sex discrimination by the bishop and by the pastor by a strong, independent woman who has advocated for the interests of the school."

"The reason given doesn't hold weight," he continued. "Cindy, arguing for the interests of the school and the strong women attending the school, has been accused of being insubordinate. I don't think that will hold up in a court of law. And we would expect, as our investigation continues, to be filing sex discrimination claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and then proceeding in federal court."

Students and parents protested her firing Monday. Students refused to go to class, instead sitting on the school's stairs dressed in pink -- Mann's signature color. Parents sought a meeting with Waseline, but were unsuccessful.

Mann, who hasn't spoken publicly since she was fired, prepared a statement for Padua students and parents, which Neuberger shared with the News Journal.

"I didn't think it was possible to love my girls and parents of Padua more than I do, but then yesterday [Monday] happened," Mann wrote. "I am so proud of all of you. I am proud that we are Padua sisters. Even more, I am thankful that we are women of faith. With God, we can move mountains. Listen to this: 'Thus we may say with confidence: The Lord is my helper and I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?' "

"Know you are the Ladies of Padua."

PADUA NEWS

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Pink protests begin in support of ousted Padua principal

Padua students continue protest as school resumes Tuesday

Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.