Clergy and religious employees removed over old social media posts

Priests, pastors and a teacher at a religious school. 4 published news cases, 2018 to 2021.

Scan yours first Every case links to its news source. Names left out on purpose.

Compiled by Dave Fradette · Updated October 20, 2026

3 of 4cases ended with the person losing the job, seat, admission or license.

In 3 of the 4 the person lost the role: 2 were dismissed, 1 resigned. In the other 1 they kept it, regained it or faced a suspension or reprimand instead. The content most often concerned politics (2), race (1).

By type: video (1), post or comment (1), photo (1), like (1). Of these, 1 involved a like (see all cases of likes costing jobs).

These counts come from cases collected here. They are not a survey and say nothing about how often this happens. Names are left out, and each case links to its source.

The 4 cases

Lost the role2021Catholic parish priest, La Crosse, WIYouTube video the diocese called "inflammatory"VideoClergy and religious employers
What surfaced
YouTube video the diocese called "inflammatory"
How old it was
About 11 months
How it came out
Went viral
Outcome
Removed as pastor; ministry restricted
What to look for in your own history
Videos aren't read by the scan today. Review public videos by hand.
Source: NCR, CNA
Lost the role2020Catholic high school teacher, Bel Air, MDPhoto appearing to show an obscene gesture at a campaign bumper stickerPhotoClergy and religious employers
What surfaced
Photo appearing to show an obscene gesture at a campaign bumper sticker
How it came out
Online petition with 1,500+ signatures
Outcome
Fired
What to look for in your own history
Photos aren't read by the scan today. Review old photos by hand, including ones on accounts close to you.
Source: Patch
Kept or regained it2020Megachurch senior pastor, Birmingham, ALLiked posts critics called racially insensitiveLikeClergy and religious employers
What surfaced
Liked posts critics called racially insensitive
Outcome
Kept his job; the church lost school-district leases and a housing-authority partnership
What to look for in your own history
A like on a post that demeans a group or endorses violence. A like counts even though you didn't write the post.
Source: Alabama Public Radio/AP
Lost the role2018Associate pastor, Palo Alto, CATweets about the city, police and older people that the mayor called "distasteful"Post or commentClergy and religious employers
What surfaced
Tweets about the city, police and older people that the mayor called "distasteful"
How it came out
A constituent delivered copies of the tweets to the mayor
Outcome
Resigned
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: ABC7

More cases by group

See all 127 cases and the key numbers

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PruneSocial scores the text in your own account exports, including likes and comments, against published screening categories and gives you one cleanup action for anything flagged. It also lists political, news-event and workplace commentary separately as reputation flags. Try a free 50-item preview.

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