Nassau PBA stands up for former teacher

The Nassau County Police Benevolent Association recently placed a digital billboard outside of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre last Wednesday, to show support for Michael Califano.

Califano, a third-grade teacher at Maria Regina Catholic School in Seaford, claims that he was fired from his job after the Diocese of Rockville Centre were sent pictures of him kissing his boyfriend.

He met with the school pastor and a diocese representative on Dec. 27, who informed him that he violated a handbook policy about adhering to Catholic values and that his employment was terminated after more than 18 months with the school.

“I just want my job back,” Califano said. “I want to be with my kids. I was more than just a teacher there. I graduated from there. My dad graduated from there. My aunts and uncles graduated from there.”

His father, Michael Califano, Sr., was a Nassau County Police patrolman who died in the line of duty when a truck hit his patrol car during a traffic stop along the Long Island Expressway in 2011.

The truck driver was apparently asleep at the wheel, and pleaded guilty to reckless driving. The Glen Cove Road Bridge over the LIE was named in his memory soon after the incident.

“The PBA supports all heroes’ families,” Todd Shapiro, a PBA spokesperson, told the Herald.

In response to the decision of the diocese, parents, colleagues, friends and family gathered outside the Cathedral to rally support to reinstate Califano.

“As stated before, Mr. Califano was not terminated because of his sexuality,” Sean Dolan, communications director for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, said in an email.

In response to the billboard taken out by the PBA, he also stated, “it is sad they have resorted to such tactics.”

Several parents created a social media page after learning Califano was fired. His aunt started a Change.org petition calling on Bishop John Barres and Pamela Sanders, the superintendent of the diocesan schools, to reinstate him.

The petition currently has more than 27,200 signatures.

Following the protest outside of St. Agnes Cathedral last month, a GoFundMe page was also created to help Califano through some hard financial times, so he can keep up with his bills and medical expenses. As of press time, the campaign is only $100 shy of its goal.