In 2005, the United Auto Workers issued a statement regarding Marine reservists who were using a UAW parking lot that read, in part, “While Reservists certainly have the right to drive non-union made vehicles…that doesn’t mean they have the right to park in a lot owned by the members of the UAW.”

If you are an employee of PepsiCo. and are seen drinking a Coca-Cola product in public, you can be, and should expect to be, formally reprimanded by the company.

Last month, a Glendale police officer was fired after writing on his personal Facebook page that the protesters in Ferguson should be “put down like rabid dogs” and were “a burden on society and a blight on the community.”

Instead of outrage, protests, or letters to editors, people were pleased the officer was removed from his office. His behavior was not appropriate for his office so he was removed from it.

Imagine if a person were to interview for and accept a position at Planned Parenthood, out himself as anti-abortion and then become outraged when Planned Parenthood didn’t stop providing abortions. Would the community support him for his beliefs? Would there be public outrage that Planned Parenthood wasn’t open-minded or catering to its employee’s beliefs? Would there be media scrutiny?

Of course not.  How absurd.

If a person actively seeks out employment within a Catholic institution, he should understand and expect that the basic tenets of the Faith will be promulgated and; hopefully, upheld in that institution.

Catholic institutions and people who are employed by Catholic institutions should be held to a much higher standard. Catholics have a right to expect our institutions and employees be held to a higher standard. Catholics should be pleased that our institutions and employees are held accountable for their actions.  Catholics should support our institutions and employees for adhering to these standards.

If we as the Church do not hold firm to our beliefs and our traditions; if we do not intend to teach the Faith, to propagate the Faith, to defend the Faith, then what has been the point of the last 2000 years?

In the Archdiocese of St. Louis employees sign a Christian Witness Statement upon employment with the archdiocese. This statement reads in part: “‘Indeed
the primordial mission of the Church is to proclaim God and to be His witness before the world.’  …the following Witness Statement applies to all who serve the Archdiocese of St. Louis. All who serve in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, in the parishes, schools, offices, agencies and other ministries and apostolates will witness by their public behavior, actions, and words, a life consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church.”

If you want to park on the UAW lot in Detroit, you’d better not drive a non-union made car.  If you want to work for PepsiCo., you’d better not drink Coke.  If you want to be a police officer, you’d better not suggest anyone should be “put down”. If you want to work for the Catholic Church, you can’t live a life that publicly defies Her teachings.

 Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.
-Saint Paul to the Thessalonians.