INDIANAPOLIS — Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School will no longer be formally recognized as a Catholic school within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis because of the school’s refusal to fire a gay teacher.

“Brebeuf Jesuit has respectfully declined the Archdiocese’s insistence and directive that we dismiss a highly capable and qualified teacher due to the teacher being a spouse within a civilly-recognized same-sex marriage,” the school said in a statement.

Brebeuf says firing the teacher would’ve been “a violation of their conscience.”

The school calls the actions of the Archdiocese “unprecedented and unique” and insist that following the directive would have set a “concerning precedent for future interference in the school’s operations.”

Brebeuf says it remains focused on providing an “exceptional education” as its leaders decide how best to proceed with appealing the Archdiocese’s order to fire the teacher.