Atty.

Antonio Rivero - Philosophy of Law

Leus vs. St.Scholasticas College Westgrove, GR No.187226,

Jan.28,2015

Facts:
 Petitioner Cheryl Santos Leus filed a complaint for illegal dismissal at
St Scholastica.
 Petitioner was dismissed for engaging in pre-marital sexual relations
& getting pregnant as a result. St Scholastica maintained that pre-
marital sexual relations even if two consenting adults without legal
impediment to marry is considered disgraceful & immoral conduct or
a serious misconduct which are grounds for the termination of
employment.
Issue:
Whether or not pregnancy out of wedlock by an employee of a
Catholic educational institution is a valid cause for the termination of
her employment
Ruling:
 No. Seus was illegally terminated. The fact of the petitioner’s out of
wedlock is not enough to characterize her conduct as disgraceful or
immoral. There must be a substantial evidence to establish that pre-
marital sexual relations & pregnancy out of wedlock are considered
disgraceful or immoral.
 When the law refers to morality, it necessarily pertains to public &
secular morality & not religious morality.
 In the instant case, the proscription against “disgraceful or immoral
conduct” which is made as a cause for dismissal must necessarily
refer to public & secular morality.

Jonathan DP. Racelis | JD1A “Non Scholae Sed Vitae”