Judge: Indiana teacher can sue diocese in IVF case - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

Judge: Indiana teacher can sue diocese in IVF case

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by an Indiana woman who says a Catholic diocese fired her from her teaching job because she underwent in vitro fertilization.

U.S. District Judge Robert Miller cleared the way Monday for a trial on Emily Herx's case against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

Herx sued the diocese last April, saying her teaching contract was not renewed after diocese officials learned she had undergone in vitro fertilization, which is banned under Catholic doctrine.

The diocese said its teachers are required by their contracts to abide by Catholic teachings, and any court review of church teachings or employment practices would violate separation of church and state and constitutional freedom of religion.

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