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Vatican suspends archbishop’s order against Indiana school

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) In this June 13, 2017, file photo, Bishop Charles Thompson speaks after he is introduced as the new archbishop of Indianapolis in Indianapolis. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis says it no longer will recognize a Jesuit high school as Catholic because it refuses to fire a teacher who's in a same-sex marriage. It says a decree to be issued by Archbishop Thompson states Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School "can no longer use the name Catholic and will no longer be identified or recognized as a Catholic institution."

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) In this June 13, 2017, file photo, Bishop Charles Thompson speaks after he is introduced as the new archbishop of Indianapolis in Indianapolis. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis says it no longer will recognize a Jesuit high school as Catholic because it refuses to fire a teacher who's in a same-sex marriage. It says a decree to be issued by Archbishop Thompson states Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School "can no longer use the name Catholic and will no longer be identified or recognized as a Catholic institution."

By  The Associated Press
 | Sep. 23, 2019, 4:01 p.m.

Indianapolis • Vatican officials have suspended the Indianapolis archbishop’s decision to stop recognizing a Jesuit-run high school as Catholic because it defied his order to fire a teacher in a same-sex marriage.

The leader of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis announced Monday that the Vatican had temporarily suspended Archbishop Charles Thompson’s decree while the school’s appeal is considered. Brebeuf’s presidentm the Rev. Bill Verbryke, says the order will allow it to resume all-school Masses.

The archdiocese says the temporary suspension is common practice and does not affect the outcome of the appeal.

Thompson in June withdrew Brebeuf’s Catholic recognition after it wouldn’t fire teacher Layton Payne-Elliott. His husband, meanwhile, lost his teaching job at Cathedral High School when that school followed Thompson’s directive. Joshua Payne-Elliott is suing the archdiocese.

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By The Associated Press