Church Controversy: Music Director Let Go for Same-Sex Union
The long-serving music director of St. Francis Catholic Church in Traverse City, Michigan, Fred Szczepanski, was dismissed recently after it was revealed that he had entered into a same-sex marriage in 2020.
The church leadership, led by Father Michael Lingaur, made the decision after receiving an anonymous tip about Szczepanski’s marriage.
This move has sparked significant backlash from the church’s congregation, including protests and protests from choir members who walked out in support of him.
Szczepanski had been with the church for 34 years, and his dismissal just months before his planned retirement in January has deeply affected many churchgoers, some of whom view the decision as unjust.
This action aligns with the Catholic Church’s longstanding stance against same-sex marriages, despite Pope Francis’s more inclusive remarks, which suggest blessings for same-sex couples.
Parishioners have expressed confusion and sadness, with many questioning the church’s message of love and acceptance in light of the dismissal.