Vineland Catholic School Pulls Teacher Over Surrogate Pregnancy

A kindergarten teacher at a Catholic school in Vineland who is carrying a baby for another family as a surrogate was put on paid administrative leave by the school.

Jadira Bonilla expected to be in the classroom with her kindergarteners at St. Mary School in Vineland, but she was pulled from active teaching by the school about ten days ago.

Bonilla is a gestational surrogate. She has no genetic link to the fetus she is carrying. The eggs provided either come from the intended parent or a third-party donor.

The Catholic Religion Frowns on Surrogacy

Bonilla was told to stay home after being placed on paid administrative leave because she's a gestational surrogate, now 25 weeks along in her pregnancy, according to CBS3 Philadelphia.

The Catholic Church considers surrogacy unethical and immoral, opposing it as an affront to the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of family.

The church believes surrogacy violates a child's right to be born and raised by their biological parents and treats children as commodities rather than gifts from God, thus undermining the unity of marriage and the natural process of procreation. 

Teacher Expected to Be in the Classroom

Jadira Bonilla never thought she would be pulled from her classroom and fully expected to be teaching at St Mary School this year, she told CBS 3..

They pulled me into the office, and the diocese said that I was possibly in violation of my contract, so I would be placed on administrative leave until further notice while they investigate. So far, I haven't heard anything back yet."

The teacher told CBS3 that there is no mention of surrogacy in her contract, but she said she was unable to show the reporter the contract because her school account was deactivated while she was on leave.

Bonilla says that the parents of her students have been reaching out to her since news of her removal from the classroom became public.

Bonilla said she was first inspired to become a surrogate at a young age when her cousin needed medical treatments that wouldn't allow her to carry a baby in the future.

Bonilla and her husband have two children of their own, and this is her second pregnancy as a surrogate.

"I just felt it in my heart that this was something I wanted to do just to help someone out," she said.

St. Mary School Responds to Teacher's Removal From Classroom

CBS 3 published part of an email from the principal at St. Mary School explaining the school's position.

"We certainly understand Mrs. Bonilla's concern. It has been our hope to meet with her to help her fully understand the Catholic Church's teaching on surrogacy, but that has not happened as of yet.

Mrs. Bonilla is a valued teacher and one we hope will one day again teach in our school with the full knowledge of our faith, which guides our educational principles."