Michael Califano, an immensely beloved, committed and diligent educator, has been unjustly dismissed from his role at a Catholic School. This decision not only affects Michael personally but it also deprives the community of a dedicated servant who consistently contributed to its enrichment. It's important to remember that educators like Michael form the robust foundation upon which successful educational institutions are built, playing a crucial role in nurturing our students' development and success.

The decision was based on a supposed cowardly and malicious "anonymous" email that was sent to the diocese, regarding a couple of social media posts of pictures of Michael and his boyfriend  - note that they were not inappropriate posts by ANY means, were not made by Michael himself and were not on his social media account -  his own social media was actually set as private (at the request of the diocese at the time of his hiring, as they knew he was gay when he was hired) so someone went digging and did this with intent of getting him fired. Instead of standing by him, his character, his legacy, his dedication and his reputation (like the school did), the diocese fired him as they felt he wasn't following a "catholic lifestyle".

To the contrary, Michael is the epitome of someone who should be praised as a role model of the catholic faith. Michael was not only a member of the parish his whole life, but attended the very school from kindergarten to 8th grade.  He continued to dedicate his life post-grad by pouring countless hours into volunteering for the school's play program, directing the plays every year with his own time and resources. His family, including his mother and siblings, also spearhead and organize an annual fundraiser to provide scholarship money for a deserving student of said school in the name of his late father who he lost in a tragic accident at the age of 13.... among other many countless hours he has dedicated to the church which included being a Eucharistic Minister. Despite all of the adversity and tragedy he has faced in his life,  his dedication to the church, his faith and the school, has never wavered and he still attends mass every week.

Hence, we strongly appeal to the responsible authorities to reconsider their decision and restore Michael Califano to his former position. Such an act of justice will send a powerful message about the importance of appreciating devoted parishioners, employees and contributors. We invite you to sign this petition to join our fight for what is right.