Elite Catholic Cincinnati Prep School Summit Country Day: Jewish Bias Lawsuit Dropped By Former Worker



Prep School Pinched By Sour Economy

 CINCINNATI (TDB) -- A private prep school that caters to wealthy and prominent families in Cincinnati admits it took a major financial hit and had to lay off staff during the economic collapse that started under former President George W. Bush.  The details surfaced in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court filings.  They came just before longtime Summit Country Day librarian Alice Finkelstein dropped her religious bias lawsuit that asserted she was targeted for dismissal because of her Jewish faith.  Throughout more than a year of litigation, the elite Catholic prep school -- whose alums include HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius -- denied all allegations of discrimination.  Finkelstein was laid off in 2009 after 10 years at the school.  Finkelstein claimed she was subjected to harassment and retaliation at the Catholic school, and said that a co-worker once told her, "Jews don't believe in the power of prayer."  She also said she was not given time off for Jewish holidays.

Summit said it let her go solely due to a deteriorating financial condition.  It said the "collapse of the economy" in the fall of 2008 was behind staff reductions at the K-12 school.  Here's Summit lawyer Paul Dorger's recounting of events [from a motion to have the case tossed out of court]:

"Summit hired Jerald Jellig as its head of School in July 2007.  One of the tasks he was charged with was to reduce costs.  At the end of the 2007-2008 academic year, Jellig reduced the work force by terminating the employment of several staff members.  Plaintiff's position was retained, and she was not effected by this first reduction in staff.

"In October 2008, Summit experienced a deteriorating financial situation as a result of the collapse of the economy.  At that time, Summit anticipated significant drops in both charitable gifts and student enrollment for the following academic year.  Additionally, Summit's investment committee indicated that the school's endowment would suffer considerable losses,  By early 2009, Summit determined that further personnel cuts were necessary.  Therefore, at the end of the 2008-2009 academic year, it was necessary for Jellig to let go of more employees . . .

"On June 8, 2009, Jellig informed plaintiff that her contract would not be renewed due to budget cuts,  Jellig gave plaintiff a letter detailing Summit's severance offer which was based on the same severance formula as the other employees whose employment was terminated by the RIF.  Jellig was unaware of the faith traditions of his staff members selected for layoff, and he did not know that plaintiff is Jewish."

Court records show Finkelstein voluntarily dropped the lawsuit in mid-September.  She did so without prejudice, which means she has the option of refiling the case within a year.  Information about the school is available by clicking here.

Tebow Family's Abortion Story: An Evangelical Christian Myth From The Phillipines?

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- A New York blogger contends University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow's family is being deceitful by claiming that a Philippines doctor suggested the athlete's mother have an abortion. If she had agreed, Tebow would not have been born. Inland Z in Buffalo points out the procedure would have been illegal under Philippine law, and notes that the island nation is one of the most Roman Catholic nations in the world. The Catholic Church is fierce in its opposition to abortion. The Tebow's were missionaries trying to convert Catholic Filipinos into becoming Protestants. Here's some of what Inland Z published today:

"The big problem:
1. Pam [Tim Tebow's mother] was seriously ill, post coma, and heavily medicated when the doctor made the alleged suggestion for an abortion. You don't discuss that sort of thing with a woman doped up with medications.
2. The Philippines Federal Penal Code ( Revised Penal Code of 1930) is very stringent when it comes to abortions. The grounds on which abortion is permitted is severely restricted:
To save the life of the woman - Yes
To preserve physical health - No
To preserve mental health - No
Rape or incest - No
Fetal impairment - No
Economic or social reasons - No
Available on request - No"

The Bellwether located a United Nation's document that has more details about abortion in the Philippines. It clearly states that abortions take place in great numbers because the anti-abortion laws aren't enforced. Inland z appears to quote material from the same document without attribution. Here's a pertinent excerpt from the UN report:

"Despite the severity of the law, abortion appears to be widely practised in the Philippines as a means of birth control and is rarely prosecuted. The International Planned Parenthood Federation reports estimates ranging from 155,000 to 750,000 induced abortions per year. However, illegal abortion is performed in a climate of fear and shame resulting from strong cultural, religious and legal prohibitions. Surveys indicate that women resorting to abortion are often from economically disadvantaged groups and take this step because they are unable to provide for another child. Surveys also indicate a high incidence of repeat abortion. In a context of poor health conditions and widespread malnutrition, and where some 76 per cent of deliveries occur at home and only 21 per cent are attended by a physician, induced abortions are poorly performed and result in high maternal mortality and morbidity. The maternal mortality ratio was estimated at 280 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990. Hospital surveys have found that about one third of maternal deaths occurring in hospitals can be attributed to induced abortion."

Where's Henry VIII? England Is Turning Catholic Again

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The sun has set on the British Empire, and now there are reports that the Roman Catholic Church Church is about to become the pre-eminent faith in England and Wales, a development that surely would set King Henry VIII's head spinning.

Henry, 1491-1547, broke away from Rome during the Reformation and launched the Protestant sect that became the Church of England. But the old state religion is sliding into No. 2 on Henry's island realm. The Times of London has the story about Catholicism's comeback, which is largely fueled by immigration to Shakespeare's precious stone set in the silver sea.