Gay Music Director Voluntarily Resigns, Will Not Sue Archbishop

KAAL
September 29, 2014

http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S3573805.shtml?cat=10151

The priest of the St. Victoria Catholic Church apologized to parishioners Sunday after their music director resigned because he married his gay partner.

On Friday, music director Jamie Manzi-Moore stepped down from his 18-year role with the church, after marrying long time partner last week.

When an anonymous tip came into the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis regarding Manzi-Moore's recent marriage to partner Garrett Manzi, Father Bob White said, Archbishop John Nienstedt asked Manzi-Moore to resign.

"He is simply doing what he and his role is called to do," Father Bob White told parishioners about Archbishop's Nienstedt's request.

In the Archbishop's statement earlier this week, Nienstedt said that he is not involved in employee matters at the parish level.

White said he fought for Manzi-Moore to stay; asking legal counsel if Manzi-Moore could remain the music director without being employed by the church.

"We were exploring, we were, we wanted to look at that," White said.

White says the archbishop could not reconcile Manzi-Moore's marriage with the teachings of the church.

In services over the weekend, parishioners sang one of Jamie's favorite songs, "All Are Welcome."

The phrase is even on a sign outside the church, but many of the parishioners say they don't feel that's the case.

"What happened here does not match how I feel about my world, my church and my God," said parishioner Stephanie Hanlon.

"We just have to figure out how we can be more loving toward each other in all of our diversity," said parishioner Lonnie Ellis.

Manzi-Moore told the church he is not hiring an attorney and has no plans to sue anyone.

A letter was read from Jamie to the church today saying: "I know the vast majority of people at St. Victoria live lives that are truly examples of the way Christ would live; free of judgment, filled with love."