St. Mary's Academy to Parents: "We Are Deeply Sorry"

Parents and students at St. Mary's Academy have questions in the wake of the Catholic prep school firing a gay staffer from her job, then creating a hiring policy to protect LGBT employees.

School officials have prepared some answers.

St. Mary's emailed a question-and-answer list to parents and alumni tonight about why the school withdrew a contract offer to Lauren Brown, then quickly backed away from the decision after WW reported on it.

"We are deeply sorry," the letter begins, "for the great pain and turmoil within the St. Mary's community over the past few days."

The Q&A contains few revelations and several questionable assertions.

It continues the school's efforts at damage control as it pursues separate negotiations with Brown and the Archdiocese of Portland.

The school repeats its assertion that it withdrew Brown's contract offer because she told them about plans to marry her girlfriend. (She says that's not true.)

It argues the school asked Brown to keep silent in exchange for a year's salary because that's a "common practice in confidential employment documents."

And it says pressure from Portland Mayor Charlie Hales, Oregon Secretary of State Ted Wheeler, and major donors Mary and Tim Boyle played no role in the school's rapid about-face.

The school gives no indication how it is progressing in talks with the Archdiocese of Portland. Archbishop Alexander K. Sample is a dedicated foe of same-sex marriage.

Here is the full letter.

WWeek 2015