Fired Church Worker Shares Testimony of Faith, Parishioners’ Support

Fired for being in a same-gender marriage, church worker Michael Templeton shared his experiences of faith and community support in a new article he penned for the Providence Journal.

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Michael Templeton and his husband

Templeton, who was fired in mid-September as the music director for the Church of St. Mary in Providence, described the last month as “rather overwhelming.” He wrote:

“[N]ot only trying to find the words to share my story, but listening to how what happened to me has impacted so many others, and all of this while trying to process a sense of personal grief for what has seemingly been lost: a ministry to a beloved church to which I’ve dedicated a quarter century.

“Regardless, I am profoundly grateful to the hundreds of people who have reached out to show their love and encouragement during the last four weeks: St. Mary’s parishioners, high school and college friends, liturgical musician colleagues from across the country, churchgoers of other denominations, and even perfect strangers who connected with my story in some way. What it tells me is that I’m living the life I’ve been called to and that my 25-year commitment to ministry through music has, in fact, made a difference.”

Templeton wrote about his understanding of faith and his own beliefs, saying that expressing faith is “a tricky thing” because:

“It is something so deeply personal and certainly not something that should be diminished, debated or devalued. We cannot claim to completely understand any other person’s journey because it occurs in the context of a very unique set of values, relationships and experiences. Those who make presumptuous judgments or offensive statements might first consider reconciling their own faults and failings with their higher power.”

He affirmed more positively his belief that every person is “created by a God who loves us unconditionally,” and said the only perspectives which matter in life’s key moments are the perspective of loved ones. Templeton added:

“Most importantly, I know that there are faith leaders and faith communities out there who authentically embody the proclamation: ‘All are welcome.’ My hope is that people of all faith traditions find a spiritual home where they are truly valued and challenged to push beyond their tightly held biases, boundaries and beliefs.”

Ever pastoral, Templeton concluded by urging readers to pray for Fr. Francesco Francese, the pastor at the Church of St. Mary, and Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence whom he described as “the local faces of a church struggling to remain culturally relevant and fiscally viable,” as well as the Church of St. Mary community which has been so wounded by this firing.

Templeton had been music director at the church for more than five years, with nearly twenty-five years in Catholic music ministries. The Church of St. Mary had a reputation for being a welcoming parish, but that identity ended with this firing. Parishioners had hoped Fr. Francese would address the matter, but after he did not in his homily the Sunday after Templeton was fired, a choir member joined by some thirty people began singing “All Are Welcome during the recitation of the Nicene Creed. Several parishioners questioned whether they could remain at that parish or the Catholic Church at all.

Bishop Tobin cited Pope Francis in his defense of the firing, which he said the church had “no choice” in doing. But there is always a choice, and this firing in Providence is a prime example of what the editors of America called “unjust discrimination” in their editorial last week against the firing of LGBT church workers.

Templeton’s sharing reveals not only the deep pain and communal wounds which discrimination by church leaders inflicts on communities, but also the powerful hope and fidelity to Christ’s inclusive love with which Catholic communities are responding to these injustices. Catholics know there is always a choice to not exclude an LGBT church worker, but there is never a choice not to love as God loves us – actively and unconditionally.

For Bondings 2.0‘s full coverage of this story, and other LGBT-related church worker disputes, click the Employment Issues category to the right or here. You can click here to find a full listing of the more than 60 incidents since 2007 where church workers have lost their jobs over LGBT identity, same-sex marriages, or public support for equality.

–Robert Shine, New Ways Ministry, November 4, 2016

7 replies
  1. Wilhelm Wonka
    Wilhelm Wonka says:

    While reading Bob’s piece on Michael Templeton, my mind was blasting Gloria Gaynor’s hit song “I will survive”. And why wouldn’t it?

    Michael, your triumph in this whole unedifying debacle for the institutional Catholic Church is your inspiring resilience. Most of all, it is your transcending the petty, spiritual immaturity of Bishop Tobin and the Iscariot-like betrayal of Father Francesce, even to the point of requesting prayer for both men.

    Your integrity and your spiritual stature have only grown through this sorry episode, leaving you standing tall. A lot taller than Tobin and Francese.

    Reply
  2. Thomas
    Thomas says:

    Mr. Templeton is a generous man. Asking for prayers for the priest and bishop was something
    laudable . The choir member and thirty parishioners who started singing “All Are Welcome” during the Nicene Creed are brave ,too and that was an act of real Christianity. It always seems to me that in such cases when something clearly unjust happens, the response of the aggrieved is the most important and instructive element to the story. Kudos to America magazine. As always, America says the truth, no matter if it is uncomfortable to some. Jesus didn’t come to make people comfortable.

    Reply
  3. Annette Magjuka
    Annette Magjuka says:

    Bishop Tobin is pushing people away from the institutional church. This firing is unjust discrimination and most Catholics know this by virtue of the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We must speak out, speak out, and never stop speaking out. I think parishioners who are outraged by this firing should keep attending mass, keep singing “All Are Welcome” and should divert their contributions to the parish to benefit the poor as Pope Francis calls us to do. A good place is NETWORK, a Catholic social justice lobbying/education organization. Any food bank, local shelter, etc could use funds. Parishes that discriminate do not deserve financial support.

    Reply
  4. Thomas Smith
    Thomas Smith says:

    Interesting how our Church reflects the world, esp. in this “time of decision” and polarity. Our new Shepherd, a different Bishop Tobin, just finished his first press conference in Newark and said, when asked what he would say to disenfranchised LGBT and women Catholics who contemplate leaving the Church, “we’re not a fraternal society. We are the People of God. LET’S TALK.” We pray that one of first actions he will take will be to “talk” with Fr. Warren Hall and Kate D. about re-hiring them.

    Reply
  5. Jim Ellison
    Jim Ellison says:

    Unfortunately, Michael, you are the victim of yet another bigoted decision by representatives of an institution that has much in common with the Taliban in forcing an narrow-minded and archaic world view masquerading as religion. You are far more Christian than the priest and bishop involved in firing you. They dismiss 25 years of music ministry to THEIR faith and church with the same ease that ISIS has dismissed the humanity of their own kinsmen when they executed gays in Iraq.
    They should be ashamed. You should be proud.

    Reply
  6. Vernon Smith
    Vernon Smith says:

    Bless you, Michael. Keep telling your story. It is so important that you keep talking about your experience. And you are so positive, uplifting!

    And to New Ways Ministry . . . Keep providing this forum where such voices can be heard! As recent blog posts by those with such stories to tell shows, they are most moving and impactful. Keep encouraging these voices to speak!

    Reply

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