Thousands Sign Petition in Support of Teacher Fired Over Abortion Answer
More than 19,000 people have signed a petition in support of a Catholic teacher who was dismissed after answering a student's question about abortion, telling students that, given her faith, she did not support it.
Sarah Morse, 66, a Catholic teacher with 20 years of experience, was teaching a history class at Arbroath High School in Scotland, The Christian Post reported. At the time, the students asked her questions, seeking her opinions across many subjects. Those topics, according to the outlet, included questions about President Donald Trump and hot-button issues such as transgenderism.
When it came to a question on abortion, Morse replied, “I am a faithful Roman Catholic, and I am against it."
Subsequently, a senior member of staff called her for a meeting at the end of the day and “summarily dismissed” her for talking “about religion and abortion.”
An organization supporting Morse's right to share her thoughts on abortion in the classroom, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), stated that educators are not barred by government guidelines from sharing their personal views.
“If a teacher can lose their job simply for answering a pupil's question according to their conscience, then every teacher of faith receives the same message: Hide your beliefs or risk losing your career,” the pro-life group said in their petition.
“This case is about far more than one teacher. It is about whether Christian teachers — and indeed teachers of any faith or protected belief — can answer pupils honestly without fearing professional ruin.”
The group's chief executive, John Deighan, mentioned how this move, if allowed to stand, could set a dangerous precedent for British citizens. He contends this would put everyone who holds a pro-life stance at risk of losing their jobs if they were to voice those thoughts and opinions on the subject.
"If people can lose their livelihoods simply for expressing a peaceful pro-life belief when asked a direct question, then freedom of conscience and freedom of expression are at risk for all of us," he said.
"Together with CitizenGO, SPUC has launched a petition calling on Angus Council to resolve Sarah’s case fairly, respect freedom of belief and expression and help ensure that no one else faces similar treatment for peacefully expressing their convictions."
Photo Credit: ©Mche Lee/Unsplash
Originally published July 21, 2026.
