Enoch Burke was suspended on full pay from his post as a teacher at Wilson’s Hospital School in Co. Westmeath. This is a Church of Ireland establishment. He had refused to address a student by their preferred pronoun ‘they’. ‘I will not call a boy a girl’ he said as it would be against his religious principles as an Evangelical Christian. What principles the Church of Ireland/Anglican/Episcopalian have in relation to trans issues is a matter of delicate theological scrying. My intuition would be latetudinarian and the fact that he was suspended would indicate some assumption of wrongdoing to be investigated. Now Burke as a long time veteran of rows with authorities is perfectly aware that this suspension was a form of silencing while a good reason for firing him was ginned up. No he wasn’t going to go quietly and chose a church service attended by staff, students and parents to object to his treatment and to transgenderism in general. Not very polite but quite effective which drew down on his head an injunction to stay clear of the school while his case was being decided. He didn’t do that but insisted on turning up for his timetabled hours. So off to prison till he agrees to purge his contempt which he will not do.
My opinion unlearned as it is: Burke is winning and to get rid of him they will have to come to a massive settlement. As far as I know the student if under 16 cannot apply to have his gender pronoun recognized, if between 16 and 18 can but it is a more lengthy process than the formality for the over 18 years of age person. Now Enoch is not challenging this but opposing his right to freedom of religious conviction and practice to the school’s mandate. This could go Supreme.
Summary of the state of play so far:
state of play:
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