> Church Music Director Was Fired For Openly Gay Life
After decades of honing his musical skills, Charles Philyaw landed his dream job in 2004 as the full-time director of music liturgy at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Verona.
The church, with 1,643 adult members, was more than just a place to work for Philyaw. He and his partner, James Mulder-Philyaw, joined the parish and participated fully in the religious community.
Then in June, it all collapsed. Philyaw said he was told by the parish priest, the Rev. Dave Timmerman, that he would no longer be retained because he was living an openly gay life. He was given two weeks notice.
Philyaw later learned that five parishioners had raised concerns about him and his partner being so prominently involved in church activities. Bishop Robert Morlino's office became involved, leading to his dismissal, Philyaw said.
I've posted and posted and posted about how I feel about this subject. Check the archives. It's a damn shame and I can't imagine the complexities of being gay and loving God in an unjust world.
Some other local residents are outraged as well. And a few old-time haters had to write as well - "I don't hate the homosexual, I hate the sin" - ugh. As I have seen and as it is 0 Gays that are born gay, just like people are born man or woman, or with white or black skin, or like eggplant or hate broccoli. It's a fact of life. Get over it. Letting a man who loves another man marry won't cause society to implode. Yes, the bible says it is bad. But, that was a simpler time when people didn't understand the world or genetics and also stoned people to death and had slaves.
I'll leave you with some rational, un-divided thoughts from today's opinion section:
No wonder Catholic membership is dwindling
In reference to Sunday's article about the firing of an openly gay music director at Verona's St. Andrew Catholic Church, I am outraged! What's next, a lynch mob or burning cross on Charles Philyaw's front lawn?
As a lifelong Christian and confirmed Catholic, I feel certain that Jesus would never turn people away just because they are different or live outside the so-called norms of the majority. Shame on Bishop Morlino for embracing such bigotry and exclusionary practices. We are all God's children and should be respected and embraced as such.
Two devote Catholics were turned away, and we wonder why the church's membership is dwindling. How many more have been lost as a result of this action? How does the bishop justify doing harm to good people in the name of Christ?
-- Jeanne R. Tentis, Poynette
Catholic church rewards honesty with exclusion
Regarding the firing of the St. Andrew openly gay Catholic music director, are we not aware that concealing one's true identity can be an unhealthy and dishonest way of life?
Someday the Roman Catholic Church will have to apologize for its efforts to conceal the sexual identity of so many cardinals, bishops, clergy and faithful. Meanwhile, it practices the politics of exclusion when people try to live honestly as they are.
And all this in the name of Jesus, who practiced a politics of inclusion to the extreme, as the Gospels tell us.
-- Jim Green, Middleton
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