PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Administrators at a Roman Catholic high school suffered a sharp and swift backlash this week after firing a well-liked teacher who sought to marry his same-sex partner.

Educators said they had no choice, but thousands have protested the move through Facebook groups and petitions demanding that Michael Griffin be rehired at Holy Ghost Preparatory School. Some alumni have pledged to withhold financial support.

Caught in the middle are people who say Griffin should have known he was jeopardizing his job by publicizing his plan to wed, as well as those worry the negative publicity is unfairly labeling the Bensalem school as intolerant.

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