Illinois' Benedictine University is facing a firestorm of unfavorable press and a possible lawsuit for allegedly ousting an administrator over her same-sex wedding announcement.
Dr. Laine Tadlock says she was forced out of her position as the director of education at the school's Springfield campus for publishing news of her Iowa wedding to partner Kae Helstrom. Tadlock had been out as a lesbian to her supervisors since before she was hired five years ago, she said.
According to Tadlock, the university previously allowed her two weeks vacation for her wedding and honeymoon, and it was in the process of finalizing partner benefits for Helstrom. But, Tadlock has said when school officials started receiving angry calls about her July 12 wedding announcement, she was put on administrative leave and offered early retirement.
She turned down the offer.
"It was their way of sweeping under the rug what they saw as a problem," said Tadlock's lawyer, Rick Frazier. The offer included a clause the prevented Tadlock from suing the university. Frazier and Tadlock countered the initial retirement offer for better benefits and compensation, but the school refused. That's when things got confusing, Tadlock said.
Tadlock was re-assigned to a position as director of accreditation, something she said she knows little about. "Of all the jobs possible to offer me, that would not be the one," Tadlock told Windy City Times."I knew I was not qualified and I was not willing to take responsibility for the continuation of the University based on my skills that I thought were inadequate."
A Nov. 10 press release from the University alleges that Tadlock was qualified for the position and that she was warned that "a refusal to report to work in this new position would be considered a resignation from employment."
Tadlock rejected the new position, and received notification Oct. 28 that the school had accepted her resignation.
"It was certainly not [ a resignation ] ," attorney Rick Frazier said.
"If my being employed there is against the tenants of the Catholic faith, then how could I be the director of another program?" Tadlock said.
The school has vehemently denied that it terminated Tadlock. However, the press release suggested that the University's actions were in fact a response to Tadlock's wedding announcement and subsequent decisions to go public with the controversy.
"It was not Tadlock's orientation, but rather the public disregard for the fundamental Catholic beliefs, which was the basis for the University's decisions," the release stated. It goes on to warn that "in the event that Tadlock seeks legal redress, whether on the basis of the supposed "termination" or otherwise, the University will defend itself vigorously, and believes it will prevail."
But Rick Frazier says the law is on his client's side. He's looking into filing a complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission, and says a lawsuit is "on the table."
Tadlock says she doesn't regret any of her actions. "Never once did Kae and I think about, 'Hmmm...how is the university going to respond to [ our wedding announcement ] . It just wasn't on the radar because they'd been so accepting so far."
