By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-27 19:28:25 | Updated at 2024-11-27 22:41:40
3 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // The principal of a Wisconsin Catholic school and subsequently the district’s superintendent were fired this week over a violation of the Green Bay diocese’s “Our Promise to Protect” policy, which is designed to protect minors from sexual abuse or exploitation.
WBAY reported that while former Principal Mike Mauthe was fired from Xavier High School over a violation of the diocesan child protection policies, Superintendent John Ravizza was fired because he failed to meet reporting requirements.
The Nov. 22 article states that Mauthe was first put on administrative leave when a complaint was reported to the Diocese of Green Bay Office of Safe Environment.
The Office of Safe Environment, the Office of the Catholic School System, Human Resources, legal counsel, and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System leadership found that Mauthe had violated the policy after investigating the complaint.
As a result of the investigation, a report was filed with the local police and Mauthe and Ravizza were fired.
“The diocese, working with Xavier High School leadership, turned this matter over to local authorities for further investigation,” the Diocese of Green Bay said in a statement to WBAY. “Since this is an ongoing investigation, no further information will be provided. The diocese and school officials are cooperating fully with local law enforcement.”
After Mauthe was fired, hundreds of community members signed an online petition to the school administration to appeal the termination, according to a Nov. 18 article from NBC26.
Mauthe responded on Facebook and asked people to end the petition and to stop protesting, and they responded accordingly.
“I am not a victim. I broke a policy and accept the consequence for doing so. No excuses, no caveats,” he wrote. “During my career, I did not always maintain the proper boundaries of communication. That responsibility was mine. I need to be better, and I own my failures for any times that I’ve fallen short of who I strive to be.”
