Music Director Fired Over Same-Sex Marriage

Fred Szczepanski, a 34-year music director at St. Francis Church in Traverse City, Michigan, was fired on October 18 after church officials learned of his same-sex marriage to partner Bill Thompson in 2020. The dismissal was prompted by a letter from an anonymous source, leading Rev. Michael Lingaur to confront Szczepanski, who confirmed his marital status. The Diocese of Gaylord stated that Szczepanski's marriage violated the terms of his employment, asserting that it jeopardized the ministerial agreement due to the Catholic Church's stance on marriage. This decision ignited protests among parishioners, who expressed their outrage by wearing black, leaving seats empty, and demonstrating outside the church. Supporters carried signs proclaiming messages of inclusion and love, while some congregants and choir members chose to resign from the church. The controversy has sparked a dialogue about acceptance and the role of personal life in church employment.