Community fights back after Maria Regina teacher is fired

Michael Califano, a third-grade teacher at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, claims he was fired from his job after the Diocese of Rockville Centre was made aware of pictures on social media of him kissing his boyfriend.

Califano says he met with the school’s pastor and a diocese representative last week informing him he had violated a handbook policy about adhering to Catholic values, and that his employment had been terminated after more than 18 months with the school.

Califano argues that while he is gay, he lives a Catholic lifestyle, and is an active participant in the church. While he and a number of parents who say they were aware of sexuality fought against the diocese’s choice to terminate, it’s believed Bishop John Barres upheld the decision.

In response, several parents created a social media page demanding Califano return. His aunt, Karen Greenwood, also started an online petition calling on Barres and Pamela Sanders, superintendent of the diocesan schools, to reinstate him.

As of Friday, more than 4,300 signatures were attached to the petition.

Diocese representatives did not answer questions surrounding the circumstances of Califano’s firing.

“For privacy reasons, we do not comment publicly on personnel matters, but we can say that the school did not end Mr. Califano’s employment over his sexuality,” diocese spokesman Sean Dolan told the Herald in an email.

Parents, colleagues, friends and family gathered on Friday morning to demonstrate in support of reinstating Califano outside of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre.

“I just want my job back,” Califano said. “I want to be with my kids. I was more than just a teacher there. I graduated from there. My dad graduated from there. My aunts and uncles graduated from there. And from the time I graduated in 2011 to now — even before I was formally employed at the school — I was helping with the musicals. I was helping with the field day. I was substituting.”

Califano says the diocese was well aware of his sexuality, and he ensured his social media accounts remained private. There wasn’t a concern, he claimed, until an anonymous letter was sent to the bishop. Although Califano had cut off public access to social media, his partner’s was still public.

“They had to have been digging for a while, whoever it was,” Califano said. “Or, they knew of me and I did something to upset them. But, I don’t know.”

His mother, Jackie Califano, said school officials fought for him to stay, but the decision was ultimately the bishop’s to make.

“He said it goes against Catholic ethics,” she said. “It’s just ridiculous in this day and age — and with the pope making his announcement only a few weeks ago (approving blessings for same-sex couples). It’s heartbreaking.

“You go to Catholic school your whole life, and you’re taught to love everyone as God loves you. And the bishop didn’t show that with his decision.”

Despite the decision, Michael Califano says he bears no ill will toward his school or his parish, and that he hopes to stay in contact with his co-workers — even if he doesn’t end up going back to work there. What he wouldn’t discuss is if he may seek redress through the courts.

More than a hundred people from the Catholic school community gathered outside of the cathedral with signs protesting the diocese’s decision. Lori Prisco, an eighth-grade teacher at Maria Regina, said Califano was one of her students when he was younger, and that she came out to support him as both a friend and a colleague.

“Michael is a man of passion and commitment to the kids,” Prisco said. “What was done here is just a travesty. And it's not that Michael did anything wrong. He was fired for something someone else posted on their social media. He was not given an opportunity to defend himself. He was not given an opportunity to bring character witnesses in.”

Prisco worked closely with Califano as co-directors of the school play, and she encouraged him to take the teaching job when it was offered.

“I teach my students to stand up when they see wrong, to be upstanders,” she said. “I have to walk the walk. I am here because an injustice has been done.”

Aaron Lohman, who has a son in the first grade at the school, says he’s known the Califano family for many years.

“He was one of the main reasons I chose to bring my son to that school, because of that relationship,” Lohman said, adding that he has always been an advocate for LGBTQ rights.

“It’s very disheartening to me, and I’m willing to pull my son out (of the school) because of this decision, if it’s not reversed.”

Students greeted Califano when he arrived at the protest, and surrounded him. Their voices echoed as they chanted “love is love” in unison, waving signs that read “God loves Mr. Califano, and so do we.”

“Words can’t describe it,” Anna Zarro, a colleague who helps run an after-school program at the school, said. “It’s sad. These poor kids have to go through all this, and now he gets fired from his job. There are so many other things that happen in the Catholic church that they just let go.

“He’s a good person. It’s just not fair.”

Califano grew up in Wantagh and currently lives in Bellmore. He is the son of Nassau County Police Department officer Michael Califano Sr., who died in the line of duty when a truck hit his patrol car during a traffic stop along the Long Island Expressway in 2011.

The truck driver was apparently asleep at the wheel, and pleaded guilty to reckless driving. The Glen Cove Road Bridge over the LIE was named in the senior Califano’s memory soon after the incident.

Additional reporting by Charles Shaw