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“To have people signing papers saying it’s not OK to be gay, that’s definitely not on,” he said.

Unknown when policy changed

A Red Deer Catholic teacher, who Postmedia agreed not to name to protect his job, said he signed a similarly worded form when he began working for the district more than a decade ago. He has never been asked to sign an updated document, he said.

The teacher, who does not identify as LGBTQ, said he gave an old mailing address to the district for at least nine months so they wouldn’t know he was living with his fiancée before marriage.

Employees regularly refer to having a vasectomy as “Catholic knee surgery,” to explain missed work days, he said. School administrators follow up with teachers who don’t go to church.

The old “conditions of employment” document could still be found on the school district’s website Monday. It was only removed on Tuesday after inquiries by Postmedia. A spokeswoman provided a copy of the new terms on Monday afternoon.

References to common-law and same-sex relationships had been removed.

The form now reads: “Specifically, you are expected, both in and out of school, to live a lifestyle and deportment in harmony with the Catholic Church practices and beliefs, which include, among other things, participation in the sacraments of the church and living in harmony with the principles of the gospel and teachings of the Catholic Church.”

It also says if employees are “now or at any time … involved in behaviours, practices or a lifestyle that do not meet the conditions of this agreement, it may lead to discipline up to and including termination of your employment or contract of designation.”