10-07-2025
In 2018, Jadira Bonilla read an article about infertility that she found very moving and decided to become a surrogate. She reached out to a surrogacy agency and offered her services. Four years later, Bonilla became a surrogate, using the embryo of a couple she contracted with, and delivered a healthy baby boy. At the time, Bonilla was employed by a Catholic school.
When that same couple asked her to become their surrogate for a second time, Bonilla agreed. Bonilla was now an elementary school teacher at St. Mary, a Catholic school, in New Jersey. However, 23 weeks into that second pregnancy, St. Mary suspended her from her kindergarten teacher position. Bonilla alleges that the reason for her suspension was the surrogacy. She stated the school told her she was on leave for a “possible violation” of her contract and would remain on leave pending an investigation. Though her contract did not explicitly prohibit gestational surrogacy, the employee handbook does provide that conduct “contrary to the doctrines and teachings of the Catholic Church” may result in discipline or termination. Bonilla claims that the principal of the school responded to the news that she was planning a surrogate pregnancy with a stark question - “You’re renting your uterus?” She stated that the principal then informed her that she could not continue to work for the school because of the surrogacy.
St. Mary’s school principal confirmed that Bonilla had been placed on administrative paid leave to the New York Times. He said Bonilla was a “valued teacher” who the principal hoped “will one day again teach in our school with the full understanding and acknowledgment of our faith, which guides our educational principles.” The use of in-vitro fertilization is contrary to Catholic teachings, according to The Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2377. The U.S. Supreme Court and New Jersey Supreme Court historically have held that federal anti-discrimination laws do not apply to teachers who provide religious instruction at church-run schools.