After Roncalli, Fitzgerald and supporters call for an inclusive Catholic church

Crystal Hill | IndyStar

Show Caption Hide Caption Months after Roncalli incident, Fitzgerald and supporters want Catholic inclusivity Protesting outside Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis, Shelly Fitzgerald and supporters hoped to reach Catholic donors to urge inclusivity.

More than two months after Shelly Fitzgerald’s suspended employment at Roncalli High School spurred local and national attention and a number of supporters, the guidance counselor stood outside a downtown cathedral on a chilly evening, holding a sign that said "Time 4 Change."

Fitzgerald joined roughly two dozen others, including her family, outside the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral on Thursday evening to protest how the church treats its LGBT members.

The protest took place during an evening Mass attended by prominent donors of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The Mass kicks off the church’s annual fundraiser. The aim was to draw their attention to the Roncalli incident, and how it points to the church’s overall exclusion, according to Julie Aldrich, whose daughter, Madison, is a junior at Roncalli.

“I want stewards to know where their money is going,” Aldrich said. “I think [Roncalli] has made people take notice and become aware that they’re supporting beliefs that they don’t agreed with."

IndyStar has reached out to the Archdiocese for comment. Attendees at the Mass also declinded to comment on the protest.

Fitzgerald was placed on leave Aug. 12 after officials at the Catholic high school were made aware that she was married to a woman. The move sparked controversy for the school and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, prompting a response from Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson. It also led to an outcry among students and parents.

Fitzgerald, an alumnus who has worked at the school for 15 years, appeared on the “Ellen” show last month and shared her story with host and LGBT activist Ellen Degeneres.

On Thursday, Fitzgerald told IndyStar some of her friends had organized the protest, and she’d initially been reluctant to attend when she found out about it on Wednesday.

“I kind of wanted to stay back, but then I thought ‘why’?" "I would love for (my daughter) to see this and people supporting us,” said Fitzgerald, whose 12-year-old daughter, Sofi , attended the protest holding a sign that said "Please welcome my family too."

Despite how "difficult" the ordeal has been, Sofi Fitzgerald is still fond of the school, she told IndyStar.

"It’s hard to hate something you love. It’s a place where I’ve grown up and love to be. I don’t see it as a place of hatred."

Shelly Fitzgerald stood with her mother and sister near the front entrance of the cathedral as people walked into the building. Pat Fitzgerald stood just a few feet away from her, advocating for his daughter.

“It’s like the rug was pulled out from underneath her,” Pat told IndyStar. “She hid who she was for 15 years because she was afraid this would happen. At least now she doesn’t have to hide anymore. That's the good thing.”

He doesn’t believe his daughter will be able to return to Roncalli, he said.

“There’s too much animosity, unfortunately. She would love to return. But that’s never going to happen.”

Officially, her employment at Roncalli remains in limbo, according to Shelly Fitzgerald. “I haven’t resigned and I haven’t been fired,” she said.

Roncalli has said its employment contracts state that employees must support the teachings of the Catholic church, including marriage “between a man and a woman.”

With her future at Roncalli still uncertain, Fitzgerald continues to call for Roncalli, and the Archdiocese, to make changes that would include LGBT members of the church, such as adjusting the contracts to allow them to serve in ministry.

“We’re hoping there’s still an opportunity for things to be more inclusive," she said.

Call IndyStar reporter Crystal Hill at 317-444-6094. Follow her on Twitter: @crysnhill.