Church leader’s same-sex marriage gets him fired months before retirement in Michigan

The longtime music director of a Catholic church in Michigan was fired months before his retirement when officials learned of his same-sex marriage, according to the church.

Fred Szczepanski entered into a same-sex marriage in 2020, but it wasn’t until recently Catholic leaders were made aware, according to the Diocese of Gaylord.

In a letter to parishioners of St. Francis Church in Traverse City, the diocese said Szczepanski’s actions jeopardized his agreement for employment.

“The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is instituted by God and therefore in its nature cannot be changed,” the diocese said. “Marriage is a permanent, faithful and exclusive covenant between one man and one woman, designed by God for the good of the spouses and rearing of children.”

The diocese referred to Szczepanski’s marriage as a “serious sin.”

Bill Thompson, Szczepanski’s partner of 32 years, said in a Facebook post they got married during the COVID-19 pandemic because they wanted to protect their rights legally.

“Never flaunted it. Never had a celebration,” Thompson said, according to the Traverse Ticker, adding that his husband did not receive a severance despite his 35 years of service to the church.

Szczepanski planned on retiring in January, according to a Change.org petition that asked the church to reverse its decision and issue an apology.

The petition said Szczepanski was an “integral part of the community,” calling his firing unjust.

“This decision undermines magisterial teaching on human dignity, basic human decency, and the parish website’s own claim that ‘all are welcome,’” according to the petition.

Parishioners protested outside the church Sunday, Oct. 27, carrying signs that read “Fired Not Retired” and “God Includes, Not Excludes,” The Associated Press reported.

Choir member Robert DeGabriele told the Traverse City Record-Eagle the congregation is “not taking (Szczepanski’s firing) lying down.”

“He got fired because he’s gay,” choir member Bob Holden told the publication. “He’s extremely talented, he’s perfect on the piano, he has perfect pitch and because of him, I look forward to going to church every week. I’m divorced. Do I get thrown out next?”

Holden told the Traverse Ticker he believed “the whole choir quit.” Despite the backlash, the church likely won’t face prosecution.

“Under the law, churches are exempt, and religious institutions…can make those decisions based on their individual beliefs,” Lauren Trible-Laucht, Traverse City’s city attorney, told the Ticker. “That’s First Amendment protected activity.”

Members of the church questioned why church leaders wouldn’t allow Szczepanski to retire instead of firing him, according to the local reports.

“People are hurt, people are sad, in a time where there is so much controversy in the world, the church needs to be a place of peace, and instead its turmoil after turmoil,” parishioner Toni Stanfield said in an interview with the Record-Eagle.

Traverse City is about a 145-mile drive north from Grand Rapids.

This story was originally published October 31, 2024 at 10:42 AM with the headline "Church leader’s same-sex marriage gets him fired months before retirement in Michigan."