SC Catholic Diocese Makes Teachers Sign Waivers Promising Not to Sue Over COVID
By Hemant Mehta, August 16, 2020

What’s the situation like for teachers working for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (South Carolina)?

If they want a job, they apparently need to sign a waiver that says they won’t sue the Church if they get infected.

By signing the agreements, teachers and staff members acknowledge they “may be exposed or infected by COVID-19 by attending and/or working at school … and that such exposure or infection may result in serious illness or, in rare cases, even death.”

Although a legal expert says the waivers may not hold up in court, teachers who sign agree to “absolutely release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless” the schools and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, including “any claims of negligent exposure,” according to the agreements.

Just to state the obvious: The 32 schools in the Diocese could simply not open. Or they could open remotely and teach classes via Zoom, as so many public schools are doing. But that might stop the flow of tuition money, so the Diocese wants to open up in person, with adults required to work in the building, knowing full well that teachers may die as a result of Church leaders’ selfishness and greed.

Some teachers may not have the choice to say no.