SOMERVILLE — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen said Friday that Patricia Jannuzzi, an Immaculata High School theology teacher suspended for sharply worded Facebook statements opposing gay marriage, is still on the school's payroll.

"The teacher's comments were disturbing and do not reflect the Church's teachings of acceptance. However, she has never been terminated, as some media outlets have reported. She has been put on administrative leave. There has been no interruption in her pay and benefits," Rev. Paul G. Bootkoski, the Bishop of Metuchen, wrote in a statement that appeared on the diocese's Web site and social media accounts.

The statement came not long after after a fundraising drive was launched purportedly on behalf of the veteran educator, an effort that had raised about a quarter of its $100,000 goal as of Friday night. The fundraising page, hosted on the site YouCaring.com, notes that while Januzzi continues to receive her full pay and benefits, she "will not be rehired to teach this September 2015."

A spokesperson for the diocese did not immediately respond to questions on whether Jannuzzi, who has taught for 33 years, would eventually be able to return to the classroom at Immaculata.

The YouCaring page asks for funds to help provide "basic support" for Jannuzzi's family, adding that she will likely be unable to obtain another teaching position following the media attention her original Facebook postings generated. Celebrities including New Jersey native Susan Sarandon have spoken out against Jannuzzi's take on gay issues.

But the YouCaring.com campaign was abruptly suspended sometime Friday, even as donations continued to pour in that day. Commenters on the site Friday night asked why they were no longer able to contribute to the campaign.

"Why has this Go Fund gone inactive. There were donations dated up to March 20th. I would like to donate but can't," one woman said in a comment posted around 8 p.m.

It was unclear exactly when Friday the campaign was listed as "not active."

The request for funds is written in the first person, referring to Jannuzzi as "our mother." The Jannuzzi family has not responded to repeated requests for comment and NJ Advance Media has been unable to confirm who created the YouCaring page.

Jannuzzi's suspension resulted from Facebook posts in which she suggested sexual orientation was a matter of choice and not an inborn trait, dismissing as "bologna" the idea that gays are entitled to 14th Amendment protections. She also said gay activists want to cause the "extinction" of Western civilization. She was ordered to de-activate her Facebook page last week.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.