Cheryll Santos Leus v. St. Scholastica’s College Westgrove and/or Sr. Edna Quiambao, OSB 28 January 2015 Reyes, J.
SHORT SHORT VERSION: Leus was emplye! "y S#. S$% &SS'() as ne * #%e+r nn#ea$%+ns#a. In 200/, s%e -# pre-nan# u# * we!l$ an! een#ually marr+e! %er "y*r+en!"a"y !a!!y. !a!!y. (%en SS'( *un! u# a"u# #%+s &als +n 200/), #%ey ase! %er # res+-n, $+#+n- 3ser+us m+s$n!u$#4. Leus re*use!. Een#ually s%e was +n*rme! +n a le##er #%a# %er emplymen# was #erm+na#e! n #%e -run! * 3!+s-ra$e*ul an! +mmral $n!u$#4 un!er #%e 12 6anual * Re-ula#+ns *r 7r+a#e S$%ls. Leus le! a $mpla+n# *r +lle-al !+sm+ssal, ar-u+n- #%a# %er pre-nan$y u# * we!l$ $ann# "e $ns+!ere! as 3!+s-ra$e*ul an! +mmral $n!u$#4. S' a-ree! w+#% %er. '+#+n- Es#ra!a . . Es$r+#r, S' sa+! #%a# #%e 3mral+#y4 $n#empla#e! "y ur laws re*ers # se$ular mral+#y. mral+#y. T%e a$# +s prs$r+"e! as 3+mmral4 "e$ause +# +s !e#r+men#al &r !an-erus) # #%se $n!+#+ns upn w%+$% !epen! #%e e9+s#en$e an! pr-ress * %uman s$+e#y4 an! n# "e$ause #%e $n!u$# +s prs$r+"e! "y #%e "el+e*s * ne rel+-+n r #%e #%er. #%er. In #%+s $ase, #%ere +s n law w%+$% penal+es an unmarr+e! m#%er un!er #%se $+r$ums#an$es "y reasn * %er se9ual $n!u$# r prs$r+"es #%e $nsensual se9ual a$#++#y "e#ween #w unmarr+e! persns. Ne+#%er !es #%e s+#ua#+n $n#raene any *un!amen#al s#a#e pl+$y as e9presse! +n #%e 'ns#+#u#+n. T%u-% Leus was emplye! +n a 'a#%l+$ s$%l w%+$% !enun$es premar+#al se9 an! pre-nan$y u# * we!l$, su$% $n!u$# +s n# !enun$e! "y pu"l+$ an! se$ular mral+#y an! $ann# "e $ns+!ere! +mmral un!er #%e #% e law. law. ;<'TS: '%eryll San#s Leus was %+re! "y S#. S$% &SS'() as a nn#ea$%+n- persnnel. Sme#+me +n 200/, Leus an! %er "y*r+en! $n$e+e! a $%+l! u# * we!l$. (%en SS'( *un! u#, Sr. E!na =u+am"a, SS'(>s !+re$#ress, a!+se! Leus # le a res+-na#+n le##er. Leus sa+! s%e wul! n# res+-n ?us# "e$ause s%e -# pre-nan#. 6ay 28, 200/: Sr. =u+am"a *rmally !+re$#e! Leus # e9pla+n +n wr+#+n- w%y s%e s%ul! n# "e !+sm+sse! *r en-a-+n- +n premar+#al se9ual rela#+ns rela#+ns an! -e##+npre-nan#, w%+$% amun#e! # ser+us m+s$n!u$# an! $n!u$# un"e$m+n- * an emplyee * a 'a#%l+$ s$%l. Leus repl+e! +n a le##er, s#a#+n- #%a# %er pre-nan$y !es n# amun# # ser+us m+s$n!u$# r $n!u$# un"e$m+n- * an emplyee@ #%a# s%e was n# aware * any s$%l pl+$y s#a#+n- #%a# pre-nan$y u# * we!l$ +s $ns+!ere! ser+us m+s$n!u$# an! #%us a -run! *r !+sm+ssal. S%e als reAues#e! a $py * SS'(>s pl+$y an! -u+!el+nes # "e a"le # respn! # #%e $%ar-e a-a+ns# %er. %er. Sr. Sr. =u+am"a +n*rme! Leus #%a# SS'( *llws #%e 12 6anual * Re-ula#+ns *r 7r+a#e S$%ls. Bn!er Se$. C&e) * sa+! 6anual, 3!+s-ra$e*ul r +mmral $n!u$#4 +s a o -run! *r !+sm+ssal +n a!!+#+n # #%e ?us# $auses enumera#e! +n
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
s$%l, %as #%e r+-%# # up%l! #%e #ea$%+n- * #%e 'a#%l+$ '%ur$% an! e9pe$# +#s emplyees # a"+!e "y #%e same. Een wrse, Leus was
s emplymen# w+#% SS'E +s #erm+na#e! n #%e -run! * ser+us m+s$n!u$#. Leus le! a $mpla+n# *r +lle-al !+sm+ssal. S%e ma+n#a+ne! #%a# %er pre-nan$y u# * we!l$ $ann# "e $ns+!ere! as o ser+us m+s$n!u$# s+n$e #%e same +s a purely pr+a#e aa+r an! n# $nne$#e! +n any way w+#% %er !u#+es as an emplyee * SS'(. ;ur#%er, s%e an! %er "y*r+en! een#ually -# marr+e! een pr+r # %er !+sm+ssal. o SS'( $n#+nue! # +ns+s# #%a# #%ere was ?us# $ause +n #%e #erm+na#+n +n #%a# Leus> pre-nan$y amun#e! # !+s-ra$e*ul r +mmral $n!u$#. T%ey ar-ue! #%a# SS'( wul! lse +#s $re!+"+l+#y +* +# wul! ma+n#a+n emplyees w% ! n# l+e up # #%e alues +# +n$ul$a#es # +#s s#u!en#s. Leus s%ul! %ae s#r+e! # ma+n#a+n #%e %nr, !+-n+#y an! repu#a#+n * SS'( as a 'a#%l+$ s$%l. L< !+sm+sse! #%e $mpla+n#@ pre-nan$y u# * we!l$ +s $ns+!ere! 3!+s-ra$e*ul an! +mmral $n!u$#.4 NLR' an! '< arme!. '<: 37e#+#+ner>s pre-nan$y pr+r # marr+a-e +s s$an!alus +n +#sel* -+en #%e wr en+rnmen# an! s$+al m+l+eu s%e was +n. Respn!en# s$%l *r yun- la!+es pre$+sely sees # preen# +#s s#u!en#s *rm s+#ua#+ns l+e #%+s, +n$ul$a#+n- +n #%em s#r+$# mral alues an! s#an!ar!s. Fe+n- par# * #%e +ns#+#u#+n, pe#+#+ner>s pr+a#e an! pu"l+$ l+*e $ul! n# "e separa#e!. Her a!m+##e! premar+#al se9ual rela#+ns was a +la#+n * pr+a#e respn!en#>s pres$r+"e! s#an!ar!s * $n!u$# #%a# +ews premar+#al se9 as +mmral "e$ause se9 "e#ween a man an! a wman mus# nly #ae pla$e w+#%+n #%e "un!s * marr+a-e.4
ISSBE: (as Leus +lle-ally !+sm+sse!G ES RE
•
•
se$n!, an assessmen# * #%e sa+! $+r$ums#an$es +s+s #%e prea+l+nnrms * $n!u$#, +.e., w%a# #%e s$+e#y -enerally $ns+!ers mral an! respe$#a"le. T%a# Leus was emplye! "y a 'a#%l+$ e!u$a#+nal +ns#+#u#+n per se !es n# a"slu#ely !e#erm+ne w%e#%er %er pre-nan$y u# * we!l$ +s !+s-ra$e*ul r +mmral. T%ere +s s#+ll a ne$ess+#y # !e#erm+ne w%e#%er #%e pre-nan$y u# * we!l$ +s $ns+!ere! !+s-ra$e*ul r +mmral +n a$$r!an$e w+#% #%e prea+l+nnrms * $n!u$#. 3T%e mral+#y re*erre! # +n #%e law +s pu"l+$ an! ne$essar+ly se$ular, n# rel+-+us. K Rel+-+us #ea$%+n-s as e9presse! +n pu"l+$ !e"a#e may +nuen$e #%e $++l pu"l+$ r!er "u# pu"l+$ mral !+spu#es may "e resle! nly n -run!s ar#+$ula"le +n se$ular #erms. E9pans+e rel+-+us *ree!m K reAu+res #%a# -ernmen# "e neu#ral +n ma##ers * rel+-+n@ -ernmen#al rel+an$e upn rel+-+us ?us#+$a#+n +s +n$ns+s#en# w+#% #%+s pl+$y * neu#ral+#y.4 &Es#ra!a . Es$r+#r) o 3ernmen# a$#+n K mus# %ae a se$ular purpse. T%a# +s, #%e -ernmen# prs$r+"es #%+s $n!u$# "e$ause +# +s 3!e#r+men#al &r !an-erus) # #%se $n!+#+ns upn w%+$% !epen! #%e e9+s#en$e an! pr-ress * %uman s$+e#y4 an! n# "e$ause #%e $n!u$# +s prs$r+"e! "y #%e "el+e*s * ne rel+-+n r #%e #%er.4 &Es#ra!a . Es$r+#r) o <$$r!+n-ly, w%en #%e law speas * +mmral r, ne$essar+ly, !+s-ra$e*ul $n!u$#, +# per#a+ns # pu"l+$ an! se$ular mral+#y@ +# re*ers # #%se $n!u$#s w%+$% are prs$r+"e! "e$ause #%ey are !e#r+men#al # $n!+#+ns upn w%+$% !epen! #%e e9+s#en$e an! pr-ress * %uman s$+e#y. ;r a par#+$ular $n!u$# # $ns#+#u#e 3!+s-ra$e*ul an! +mmral4 "e%a+r un!er $++l ser+$e laws, +# mus# "e re-ula#e! n a$$un# * #%e $n$erns * pu"l+$ an! se$ular mral+#y. I# $ann# "e ?u!-e! "ase! n persnal "+as, spe$+$ally #%se $lre! "y par#+$ular mres. Nr s%ul! +# "e -run!e! n 3$ul#ural4 alues n# $n+n$+n-ly !emns#ra#e! # %ae "een re$-n+e! +n #%e realm * pu"l+$ pl+$y e9presse! +n #%e 'ns#+#u#+n an! #%e laws. &
•
•
•
•
•
In r!er *r a $n!u$# # "e $ns+!ere! as !+s-ra$e*ul an! +mmral, +# mus# "e 3!e#r+men#al # #%se $n!+#+ns upn w%+$% !epen! #%e e9+s#en$e an! pr-ress * %uman s$+e#y an! n# "e$ause #%e $n!u$# +s prs$r+"e! "y #%e "el+e*s * ne rel+-+n r #%e #%er.4 In #%e presen# $ase, #%e 'ur# !es n# n! any $+r$ums#an$e w%+$% wul! lea! +# # $n$lu!e #%a# Leus $mm+##e! a !+s-ra$e*ul r +mmral $n!u$#. I# "ears s#ress+n- #%a# Leus an! %er "y*r+en!, a# #%e #+me #%ey $n$e+e! a o $%+l!, %a! n le-al +mpe!+men# # marry. In!ee!, een pr+r # %er !+sm+ssal, Leus marr+e! %er "y*r+en!, #%e *a#%er * %er $%+l!. T%ere +s n law w%+$% penal+es an unmarr+e! m#%er "y reasn * %er o se9ual $n!u$# r prs$r+"es #%e $nsensual se9ual a$#++#y "e#ween #w unmarr+e! persns@ #%a# ne+#%er !es su$% s+#ua#+n $n#raene any *un!amen#al s#a#e pl+$y ens%r+ne! +n #%e 'ns#+#u#+n.
•
•
On #%e -rae s$an!al $ause! # SS'( an! +#s s#u!en#s SS'( $la+me! #%a# Leus was pr+mar+ly !+sm+sse! "e$ause %er pre-nan$y u# * we!l$ $ause! -rae s$an!al # SS'( an! +#s s#u!en#s. T%e 'ur# *un! #%a# SS'( *a+le! # a!!u$e su"s#an#+al e+!en$e # pre #%a# Leus> +n!+s$re#+n +n!ee! $ause! -rae s$an!al # SS'( an! +#s s#u!en#s. o O#%er #%an #%e SS'(>s "are alle-a#+n, #%e re$r!s are "ere*# * any e+!en$e #%a# wul! $n+n$+n-ly pre #%a# #%e pe#+#+ner>s $n!u$# +n!ee! a!ersely ae$#e! SS'(>s +n#e-r+#y +n #ea$%+n- #%e mral !$#r+nes, w%+$% +# s#an!s *r. Leus +s nly a nn#ea$%+n- persnnel@ %er +n#era$#+n w+#% SS'(>s s#u!en#s o +s ery l+m+#e!. I# +s #%us Au+#e +mpss+"le #%a# %er pre-nan$y u# * we!l$ $ause! su$% a -rae s$an!al, as $la+me! "y SS'(, as # warran# %er !+sm+ssal. In #erm+na#+n $ases, #%e "ur!en * pr+n- #%a# #%e !+sm+ssal * #%e emplyees was *r a al+! an! au#%r+e! $ause res#s n #%e emplyer. I# +s +n$um"en# upn #%e emplyer # s%w "y su"s#an#+al e+!en$e #%a# #%e #erm+na#+n * #%e emplymen# * #%e emplyees was al+!ly ma!e an! *a+lure # !+s$%ar-e #%a# !u#y wul! mean #%a# #%e !+sm+ssal +s n# ?us#+e! an! #%ere*re +lle-al. In!u"+#a"ly, "are alle-a#+ns ! n# amun# # su"s#an#+al e+!en$e. o 'ns+!er+n- #%a# SS'( *a+le! # a!!u$e su"s#an#+al e+!en$e # pre #%e+r asser#e! $ause *r Leus> !+sm+ssal, #%e la"r #r+"unals s%ul! n# %ae up%el! #%e+r alle-a#+ns %, l+ne an! s+ner. •
•
•
On #%e e9er$+se * mana-emen# prer-a#+e I# %as "een %el! #%a# 3mana-emen# +s *ree # re-ula#e, a$$r!+n- # +#s wn !+s$re#+n an! ?u!-men#, all aspe$#s * emplymen#, +n$lu!+n- %+r+n-, K !+s$+pl+ne, !+sm+ssal an! re$all * wrers. T%e e9er$+se * mana-emen# prer-a#+e, %weer, +s n# a"slu#e as +# mus# "e e9er$+se! +n -! *a+#% an! w+#% !ue re-ar! •
•
# #%e r+-%#s * la"r.4 6ana-emen# $ann# e9er$+se +#s prer-a#+e +n a $ruel, repress+e, r !esp#+$ manner. SS'(, as emplyer, un!en+a"ly %as #%e r+-%# # !+s$+pl+ne +#s emplyees an!, +* nee! "e, !+sm+ss #%em +* #%ere +s a al+! $ause # ! s. Hweer, as alrea!y e9pla+ne!, #%ere was n $ause # !+sm+ss Leus. o Her $n!u$# +s n# $ns+!ere! "y law as !+s-ra$e*ul r +mmral. ;ur#%er, respn!en#s #%emseles %ae a!m+##e! #%a# SS'(, a# #%e #+me * o #%e $n#rersy, !es n# %ae any pl+$y r rule a-a+ns# an emplyee w% en-a-es +n premar+#al se9ual rela#+ns an! $n$e+es a $%+l! as a resul# #%ere*. T%ere "e+n- n al+! "as+s +n law r een +n SS'(>s pl+$y an! rules, SS'(>s !+sm+ssal * #%e pe#+#+ner +s !esp#+$ an! ar"+#rary an!, #%us, n# a al+! e9er$+se * mana-emen# prer-a#+e.
RBLIN: pe#+#+n -ran#e! D+-es# "y R+9
