An openly gay teacher at a Catholic school in the US was fired after school officials discovered he was planning to marry his long time partner.

Michael Griffin claims he was fired on Friday (Dec 6) after he sent an email to administrators explaining that he would be slightly late to work because he had to apply for his marriage license. Griffin taught French and Italian at Holy Ghost Prep School, Pennsylvania for 12 years and never experienced any conflict over his sexuality until now.

He explained that the school administrators told him the email that he sent on the school server made his same-sex relationship public and that he would lose his job if he decided to go ahead with the marriage. Griffin claims that school president Fr. James McCloskey told him, “If you go through with [the marriage], I have no other choice but to fire you.”

Griffin told ABC news, “I was in shock, I had no forewarning.”

In an official statement, Fr. James McCloskey wrote:

“Unfortunately, this decision contradicts the terms of his teaching contract at our school, which requires all faculty and staff to follow the teachings of the Church as a condition of their employment. In discussion with Mr. Griffin, he acknowledged that he was aware of this provision, yet he said that he intended to go ahead with the ceremony. Regretfully, we informed Mr. Griffin that we have no choice but to terminate his contract effective immediately.”

Griffin, a practicing Catholic, has said that he is deeply saddened by the school’s decision, but that he has received many positive messages from students and faculty.