INDIANAPOLIS — They called it an “agonizing decision.”

In an open letter posted online, Cathedral High School, a diocesan school in Indianapolis, announced it would be “separating” from a teacher who is in a public same-sex marriage. The move comes after “22 months of discussion with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis,” says the letter.

It is Archbishop Thompson’s responsibility to oversee faith and morals as related to Catholic identity within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis,” the letter continued. “Archbishop Thompson made it clear that Cathedral’s continued employment of a teacher in a public, same-sex marriage would result in our forfeiting our Catholic identity due to our employment of an individual living in contradiction to Catholic teaching on marriage.”

Cathedral said if it had not chosen to cut ties with the teacher, not only would they be forfeiting their Catholic identity, they would also their status as a non-profit school since the Archdiocese would have essentially cut all ties with the school — similar to what happened to Brebeuf Jesuit High School this week.

The difference, says Cathedral, between them and Brebeuf is that even though the Archdiocese no longer recognizes Brebeuf as a Catholic school, the has school never received financial backing from the Archdiocese. Cathedral, on the other hand, does get funding.

“I think it’s sad that we are in a time and place where the Archdiocese of Indianapolis is willing to take away the blessing of the Sacraments from a faith-filled community and environment over firing one teacher or two teachers or three teachers for being gay,” said Shelly Fitzgerald, a former guidance counselor fired from Roncolli High School for being in a same-sex marriage.

“I think Cathedral had an opportunity to do what was morally and ethically right, and I wish that they had made a different decision.”

Both the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and Rob Bridges, the Cathedral High School President, have not been able to be reached for comment.