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.
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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!
JC Fisher
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.
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
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.
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