Fifth Third Bank has announced that it stands with LGBTQ students and parents in Florida and will no longer contribute to a scholarship fund there until more inclusive policies have been adopted. The question now becomes will the banking corporation with headquarters in Cincinnati do the same in it's hometown and other cities across America.
Fifth Third Bank is the leading sponsor of a fundraising dinner coming up in April for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Inner City Schools Education Fund. The banking corporation's Executive Vice President and head of regional banking, Phillip McHugh is on the board of the organization. The money raised goes to schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati which requires it's employees to sign a morality clause in their contract saying they will not publicly support a homosexual lifestyle.
Fifth Third Bank was called out for being hypocritical by a lawmaker in Florida who said the company can't support the gay pride parade on one hand and then fund an organization that does not support LGBTQ students on the other. In the tweet shown below, the banking corporation agreed and said it will no longer fund the scholarships until the schools that participate become more inclusive.
It has left supporters of the CISE fund in Cincinnati to wonder if they are about to be cutoff as well.
Here is the wording of the morality clause in the contract that Catholic school teachers must sign:
- Teacher-Minister agrees to comply with all policies, handbooks, rules and regulations of the School and of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Teacher-Minister also agrees to exemplify Catholic principles in a manner consistent with Teacher-Minister’s relationship with the Catholic Church and to refrain from any conduct or lifestyle which would reflect discredit on or cause scandal to the School or be in contradiction to Catholic social doctrine or morals. While the School does not mean to suggest that Teacher-Minister is involved in such conduct or lifestyle, by way of example, such conduct or lifestyle that is in contradiction to Catholic social doctrine or morals includes, but is not limited to: cohabitation outside marriage; sexual activity out of wedlock; same-sex sexual activity; use of abortion; use of a surrogate mother; use of in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination; advocacy (defined as presenting or promoting as acceptable) for conduct, lifestyle, positions, policies, programs, causes or movements in contradiction to Catholic social doctrine or morals; and/or flagrant deceit or dishonesty