Traverse City music director fired from church over same-sex marriage

Traverse Metropolis, Mich. (Fox 2) – Michigan’s civil rights say that employers can not discriminate, however that’s precisely what a music director says that he occurred to him and that the priest lied to parishioners about it.

The background story:

Fred Szczepanski has been the music director in St. Franciscus of Assisi Catholic Church in Traverse Metropolis for 34 years. Invoice Thompson and Szczepanski have been married in 2020, however they’ve been collectively for 32 years.

“Previously 34 years he has not missed a Christmas service or a midnight mass or an Easter service. He was all the time there, very devoted to that church,” mentioned Thompson. “He constructed a kids’s choir and a funeral choir and the conventional choir.

Szczepanski was only some weeks away from his pension of January 1, when his new boss, father Michael Lingaur, fired him on the finish of October 2024.

“Oh, it was my life – it was my life – I used to be 32 once I began there,” mentioned Szczepanski. “All of the babies I had in my kids’s choir – I’ve executed their weddings, and they’re now mother and father and help me essentially the most.”

What they are saying:

Szczepanski says that there had by no means been an issue till the brand new priest, Michael Lingaur, arrived three months earlier.

He known as me within the workplace and advised me that he needed to let me go due to a wedding of the identical intercourse, though everybody within the church and all my former bosses have been conscious of our relationship. However as a result of we have been married 4 years in the past, he might now not let me work in entrance of the church, “he mentioned.” Then he mentioned we’ll inform everybody that you’re taking an early retirement, which was a lie. “

Thompson mentioned that Lingaur Szczepanski requested to work two weeks after their assembly, and provides insult to damage.

“When he ended me, he mentioned that you’re very welcome to worship right here, however you’ll be able to now not do music for plenty, for weddings, for funerals – and you may now not obtain communion,” mentioned Szczepanski.

DIVERS DEPERTION:

Immediately the lifelong Catholic and devoted worker says that he was not solely excommunicated, but in addition on the receiving aspect of discrimination and illegal termination. Blake Ringsmuth is the lawyer of Szczepanski – he says that the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act forbids such discrimination, and they’re now prosecuting the church and the diocese of Gaylord.

“This was only a malignant, merciless factor that this priest did,” mentioned Ringsmuth. “The very fact is that they don’t have the suitable to discriminate in opposition to somebody of their work. A sexual orientation, marriage standing and intercourse are protected lessons – and the declare we deliver is that he has been illegally discriminated in opposition to all these fronts.”

The diocese refused to remark, however referred us to a letter that Bishop Jeffrey Walsh despatched to parishioners and mentioned that workers give permission with a ministerial settlement to stick to the teachings of the Catholic Church, that marriage is an unique covenant between a person and a girl.

“I had labored there for 34 years – I had 4 earlier bosses earlier than this priest got here in – and I all the time had praising opinions about my efficiency. My private life had nothing to do with my efficiency,” mentioned Szczepanskis.

Native perspective:

There have been pushback, parishioners protested and even left the church fully.

So many individuals despatched letters to the priest and the bishop. A dozen predecessors from different denominations even weighed a proof of the impression of 1 music director for greater than three a long time. Now tackle a brand new function together with his husband by his aspect.

“We wish to give a platform for future people who find themselves discriminated in opposition to, as a result of if no one takes a place, nothing won’t ever change,” Invoice mentioned.

“It is not nearly me – it is about individuals shedding their jobs throughout this nation – and the explanation I am going by it is because I do not need it to occur to another person – you realize it is improper – it is improper,” mentioned Szczepanski

Why it’s best to save:

Fred Szczepanski says that he’s grateful to the many individuals who’ve supported him and help what they suppose is a crucial civil regulation case with far -reaching impression.