The Lead

Love conquers even the loss of jobs according to New York Times:

For two men in St. Louis, it seemed like a romantic way to spend their 20th anniversary: a weekend in New York, with a marriage ceremony in Central Park on Friday and a Broadway show, “Priscilla: Queen of the Desert,” on Saturday.

But for one of the men, Al Fischer, 46, a teacher at a Catholic school, there were unforeseen consequences.

On Feb. 15, Mr. Fischer announced his joyful plans to colleagues at a staff meeting. His colleagues applauded, he said. He did not realize that an official from the Archdiocese of St. Louis was in attendance. The next day, Mr. Fischer was informed that he was fired.

Two weeks later, after news of his firing made headlines, he was terminated from his second, part-time job as music director for the Roman Catholic church where he and his partner, Charlie Robin, have worshiped for more than six years.

“I didn’t expect any of this,” said Mr. Fischer, who said that he and Mr. Robin had been open about their relationship, both at St. Ann Catholic School, where Mr. Fischer taught music, and at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Church in Florissant, Mo. The pastors at both parishes knew the men were gay, Mr. Fischer said. “I didn’t understand it would be, ‘click, you’re done,’ but it was..

...Both men say they remain committed to the Catholic Church, though they plan to look for a new church to attend. “I’ve been Catholic all my life,” Mr. Robin said. “It’s the way I know how to worship.

Comments (11)

I'm glad we're sharing this story at Episcopal Cafe. If the link above doesn't work, this may -
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/after-firings-and-controversy-the-wedding-will-go-on/
Talking about the school firing, my wife and I decided the interesting question in the story is "Where is the church?" We've got the Roman Catholic church nurturing these two guys who go to mass faithfully, we've got a hierarchical decision for a firing, we've got the Roman Catholic parents expressing unreserved support for a much loved dedicated teacher, and we've got two guys whose loyalty to their church carries them forward. So where in all that is the church?

Posted by Donald Schell | March 11, 2012 10:27 AM

Thanks Donald and other alert readers. Sorry for the broken link. Hope it works now.

Posted by Ann Fontaine | March 11, 2012 10:33 AM

I'm impressed with their commitment to the church.

Posted by Claire Carter | March 11, 2012 11:01 AM

This version of the story says Steav found a home in The Episcopal Church.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/12/3004849/music-directors-marriage-leads.html

"With some 10,000 members, St. Gabriel is one of the largest Catholic congregations in the state. Bates-Congdon, 61, a former Methodist minister and now an Episcopalian, joined the staff in 2004."

Posted by John B. Chilton | March 11, 2012 11:24 AM

John, that's a story from NC. The original story is from MO. Yes, being fired for getting married has happened to two different gay men !

--Susan Forsburg

Posted by IT | March 11, 2012 11:40 AM

Thanks, Susan!

Posted by John B. Chilton | March 11, 2012 11:44 AM

I really HOPE Fischer&Robin find a home, as Catholics, in the branch of the Church Catholic that is TEC.

At least under the current Pope, to join another RC parish (or work for an RC institution) would be masochistic, IMO. A traumatic, abusive separation would just happen again (despite all the friendly, supportive RCs they would meet before).

JC Fisher

Posted by tgflux | March 11, 2012 4:09 PM

That's what I meant, JC. It seems almost super-human to want to continue in the Catholic church. The Catholic church has its longstanding, unyielding positions and prohibitions, and I am surprised that given their orientation and openness about it that they still have warm feelings toward that church.

Posted by Claire Carter | March 11, 2012 5:32 PM

Such a sad story! It's just more evidence that the RC hierarchy, in opposition to the RC laity, simply doesn't care about gay people.

-Cullin R. Schooley

Posted by Apps 55753818692 1675970731 F785b701a6d1b8c33f0408 | March 12, 2012 7:39 AM

What this reminds me of is the occasion when my bishop had made a comment about using a specific translation in place of another but, when he was to make his offical visit and I started to remind him what we were doing, he responded, "Don't tell me or I shall have to slap your wrists." Knowing and knowing OFFICIALLY is all very different. . . . in the case of two loving
men.

Posted by Canon K F KKing Tssf | March 12, 2012 12:49 PM

Just for the sake of consistency, one wishes that these "Hammer of Orthodoxy" bishops had formally gone after the congregations/schools where these gay men were employed (because they all knew they were gay&partnered).

But they don't, seemingly because they want to PRETEND that the lay people are WITH them, and not complicit/allied w/ Teh Gays.

Lack-of-integrity, piled on lack-of-integrity. Boo!

Posted by tgflux | March 12, 2012 4:34 PM

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