The state Supreme Court has ruled that a former Catholic school principal cannot sue the Archdiocese of Hartford on claims she was wrongly fired for not retaliating against a student who complained about sexual remarks allegedly made by a priest.
The high court unanimously overturned a lower court ruling on Monday, saying state courts cannot intrude on religious institutions' right to decide internal matters.
The plaintiff is Patricia Dayner, former principal of St. Hedwig's School in Naugatuck.
She said her contract was not renewed for the 2005-06 school year because she refused to retaliate against an eighth-grader who complained that the Rev. Stephen Bzdyra used sexually explicit language in a classroom during a religion course, which made the student and other girls uncomfortable.
The court documents state that Bzdyra told Dayner to call the department of children and families on the student, but she would not because did not enough information to warrant a referral.
Bzdyra is currently on administrative leave because of allegations of child sex abuse, which he denies.
