A teacher at the center of a longstanding dispute over recognizing a student's transgender pronoun has been jailed for a third time for violating a court order to keep him away from a school.
Christian evangelist Enoch Burke, a history and German teacher, was suspended from Ireland's Wilson's Hospital School in County Westmeath in August 2022 after he publicly confronted the then-principal about a transitioning student during a public school event.
Burke has been objecting to using the student's preferred pronouns and new name, arguing that using their preferred pronoun violates his religious rights.
Following his suspension, he continued to show up to the school in an attempt to teach lessons, resulting in a court injunction that barred him from the school grounds.
He has twice previously been incarcerated at Mountjoy Prison, a medium security men's jail in Dublin, for breaching the same court order.
On Monday, he was again found in contempt of the order after continuing to visit the school.
Burke told the judge: "You will answer to God for imprisoning me for my religious beliefs," The Irish Times reports. Burke denied he is in contempt of court.
Timeline
September 2022
On September 5, Burke is jailed for the first time for breaching the court order in place to keep him away from the school. Burke told the court that he could not "in conscience" obey the court order, according to a report by Reuters.
December 2022
Burke is released from prison on December 21.
January 2023
Burke is fired from Wilson's Hospital School for gross misconduct after being suspended with pay since the 2022 incident. Burke has appealed the case, and he still receives his full salary from the school as the appeal remains live.
September 2023
Burke is jailed for a second time for breaching a court order that barred him from attending the school grounds.
June 2024
An Irish High Court judge orders Burke be released from Mountjoy Prison as Irish schools break for the summer holiday.
August 2024
Burke is arrested again by the Garda (Irish police) for returning to the school grounds once term time had resumed on August 22.
He told Sky News: "I teach everyone who's in front of me. I teach every single student. But when I am commanded, when I'm told that I can't have my religious belief anymore, when I'm told I have to confess belief in transgenderism, instead of my simple belief, which is male and female, that's just a breach simply of my rights."
When asked his thoughts on the prospect of returning to prison, he told the Irish Mirror: "Well, our religious rights are protected in this country.
"The school and the courts are denying me those rights. That's the thing. I did my duty here. I have to do what's right. I am at work."
September 2024
On September 3, a Dublin judge orders Burke return to Mountjoy for the further breach of the court order. He refused to answer the judge with a "yes" or "no" answer when asked if he would continue to disobey the order, the Irish Independent reports. The judge said he would be released if he promised to abide by the order.
Burke said he was still employed by the school and continues to receive a salary.
What Are Burke's Religious Beliefs?
Burke is an evangelical Christian, as are other members of his family, who have supported him since he was first suspended. When he was sent back to prison this week, he said: "I am a Christian. I have Christian beliefs. My belief is male and female, God made them male and female."
Some evangelicals in the U.S. and elsewhere believe changing gender is not permitted by the Bible, with God having separated humans specifically into males and females.
"So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them," Genesis 1:27, an often cited biblical quote, reads.
According to the Pew Research Center, 87 percent of white American evangelicals believe gender is determined by sex at birth.
Policy on transgender pupils varies from state to state across America. In Boston a pupil was banned from wearing a T-shirt highlighting the issue.
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