Emails between Padua principal, St. Anthony's pastor Waseline show why she was fired

Emails obtained by The News Journal show Padua Academy Principal Cindy Mann was fired after she questioned the financial relationship between St. Anthony's of Padua parish and the school.

Her ouster on March 16 set off a series of protests by students and parents.

On Feb. 2, Rev. Nicholas Waseline, pastor of St. Anthony's, ordered that money be assessed against Padua Academy in the form of a "stewardship collection," according to an email dated the same day.

Mann questioned the justification for the assessment in an email to the Board of Trustees. On March 16, Waseline sent a letter to Mann informing the principal she was being terminated immediately.

On Wednesday, the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington released a statement sayingvote.

He retains his canonical authority in the following way: If the board votes in the majority on an issue to which the pastor is opposed, the board and pastor can take that issue to the diocese (schools office/bishop) for mediation, according to the foundation.

The board oversees the majority of governance issues, with a few reserved powers (e.g. maintaining Catholic identity, approving transactions such as selling property or modifying the school building). According to the foundation, 70 percent of schools using this model have increased enrollment and all consistently saw an increase in giving.

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Feb. 16: Final letter about tuition

In a Feb. 16 email to Padua Academy's Board of Trustees, Mann says she does not believe all the assertions presented by