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Gay Choir Leader's Firing Turns Into a Test of Faith
The Chicago Tribune ^
| July 9, 2003
| Colleen Mastony
Posted on 07/09/2003 9:14:05 AM PDT by hinterlander
ROCKFORD -- The new choir director was one of the best things that ever happened to Holy Family Catholic Church. Everyone said so.
He brought together businessmen and blue-collar workers, students and senior citizens to make music that lifted the whole parish--until last month, when church officials learned he is gay.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: catholic; church; homosexuality; lifestyle; religion
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To: hinterlander
bump
To: hinterlander
A gay church choir director, I am shocked, just shocked!
3
posted on
07/09/2003 9:17:29 AM PDT
by
dfwgator
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4
posted on
07/09/2003 9:17:36 AM PDT
by
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To: hinterlander
I'm tellin' ya, it's always the freakin' choir director or the organist.
5
posted on
07/09/2003 9:18:25 AM PDT
by
squidly
To: squidly
Good. We need a lot more of this.
6
posted on
07/09/2003 9:22:30 AM PDT
by
7 x 77
To: hinterlander
There's an earlier link to a Rockford newspaper account of this.
The Rockford story was clear: the guy was in a "relationship" and THEN announced that he and (Bruce? Lance?) intended to ADOPT A CHILD, for crying out loud.
That was it. He got fired.
7
posted on
07/09/2003 9:24:46 AM PDT
by
ninenot
(Joe McCarthy was RIGHT, but Drank Too Much)
To: ninenot
What about the case of a gay couple with children, who don't have a position in the Church but attend functions where it's obvious to all that they're flaunting the teaching against homosexuality.
Now, what about the cases of all the straights that are flaunting other teachings: pre-marital sex, co-habitation, supporting abortion in one manner or another, unwelcoming about bringing children into their family, birth control, etc.
8
posted on
07/09/2003 9:32:26 AM PDT
by
7 x 77
To: dfwgator
Suppose the choir director were shacking up with his girl friend?
9
posted on
07/09/2003 9:34:40 AM PDT
by
7 x 77
To: 7 x 77
You have asked good questions--the answer to which will be somewhat bifurcated.
The Church has a 'morals clause' in any written agreement for employment, and an implied 'morals clause' in the oral agreements. YOU, employee, don't scandalize folks and WE, church, will keep you on.
HOWSOMEVER, enforcement is haphazard, as you might expect. In the case at hand, I think the 'adoption' thing was a bridge too far and got the attention of somebody.
Obviously, there was an implicit 'don't ask/don't tell' see-no hear-no going on while the fellow had his 'relationship.'
Confused?
10
posted on
07/09/2003 9:49:15 AM PDT
by
ninenot
(Joe McCarthy was RIGHT, but Drank Too Much)
To: hinterlander
A choir director?
Must have found him playing with someone else's organ.
To: Akron Al; Alberta's Child; Aloysius; AniGrrl; Antoninus; Bellarmine; BlackElk; ...
PING.
Perhaps these articles should have a 'LAVENDER ALERT'?
12
posted on
07/09/2003 9:58:12 AM PDT
by
Loyalist
(Keeper of the Schismatic Orc Ping List. Freepmail me if you want on or off it.)
To: ninenot
YOU, employee, don't scandalize folks and WE, church, will keep you on. Since we're all sinners, and since Catholics place a high value on the group staying entact as much as possible, there needs to be some flexibility. On the other hand, 45 years ago this issue wouldn't be popping up everywhere.
13
posted on
07/09/2003 9:58:37 AM PDT
by
7 x 77
To: 7 x 77
Musicians have been more suspect of homosexual tendencies (as a group) than many others.
You are correct: there's a greater sensitivity to the homosexual problem in the RC Church lately.
14
posted on
07/09/2003 10:02:35 AM PDT
by
ninenot
(Joe McCarthy was RIGHT, but Drank Too Much)
To: 7 x 77
But the answer is to hold EVERYONE to higher standards rather than lower the standards for all.
My Mom was a big believer in spring house cleaning.
To: PeterPrinciple
But the answer is to hold EVERYONE to higher standards
And what principle would that be, Peter? ;)
16
posted on
07/09/2003 10:08:32 AM PDT
by
gcruse
(There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women[.] --Margaret Thatcher)
To: ninenot
Musicians have been more suspect of homosexual tendencies (as a group) than many others. Hey now, as a musician I would remind you that interior decorators, theater actors, hairstylists and drapers should always come to mind before us.
Hell, thrown in fashion designers and bodybuilders, and we're probably not even in the top 10!
17
posted on
07/09/2003 10:12:39 AM PDT
by
Pahuanui
(when A Foolish Man Hears The tao, He Laughs Out Loud.)
To: 7 x 77
If any Church employee or volunteer were involved in a Church ministry and were teaching or flaunting something/anything against the teachings of the Catholic Church, that employee or volunteer would be (and rightfully so) fired or removed from ministry.
As for your hypothetical gay couple with children flaunting the teachings against homosexuality, a priest or deacon SHOULD discuss the matter with them.
To: Pahuanui
I have been a church musician for over 40 years--and my uncle was one for about the same time period (but going back to the 1940's)
I agree with your assessment of rank-order--but the fact remains that we are suspects.
19
posted on
07/09/2003 10:17:17 AM PDT
by
ninenot
(Joe McCarthy was RIGHT, but Drank Too Much)
To: 7 x 77
As a side note, the Catholic Church does recognize the fact that some couples do co-habitate then get married in the Church. My wife and I are pre-Cana facilitators and I have read the "pamphlet" citing the statistics that there is a slightly higher incidence of divorce in marriages after co-habitation. But the Church will not refuse to marry the couple.
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