Catholic diocese cancels gala fundraiser rather than host entertainer in a gay ‘marriage’
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| English: A procession of the during the first Annual Southeastern Eucharistic Congress in , USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, – A U.S. Catholic diocese called off an annual charitable event rather than
host a performer living in obvious violation of Church teaching on marriage.
The Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., confirmed for LifeSiteNews it
did not follow through with its March 12 Catholic Charities Gala for Hope in
Asheville once it learned the entertainer booked for the event is in a
homosexual “marriage,” and said that it was not acceptable for the diocese to
have someone perform at one of its events while the person is in open conflict
with Church teaching.
Singer Katrina (Kat) Williams appeared the last two years for
the event and was booked to perform again, but said she was informed March 1 by
Catholic Charities Executive Director Gerry Carter she would not be needed for
this year’s event because Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis had read a 2013 magazine
article where she’d been quoted saying she had been “married” to her female
partner for seven years.
Director of Communications David Hains emphasized that “the
Catholic Church believes and teaches that all persons, regardless of their
sexual orientation, are deserving of respect and lives of dignity,” but that
the Church’s teaching on marriage was clear.
“We are called to follow the words of Scripture and the teaching
of the Catholic Church which clearly state that marriage can only exist between
one man and one woman,” Hains told LifeSiteNews. “It is unacceptable for us to
knowingly allow someone to perform at one of our events while that person is in
open opposition to our teaching.”
He confirmed as well the diocese was not previously aware that
Williams was in a homosexual “marriage.”
The diocese postponed the Gala indefinitely because of the situation,
saying in a March 10 statement:
As most
are aware, there has been controversy surrounding the entertainment at this
year’s event. Although the funds generated from this fundraiser help support
critical services to thousands of individuals living in poverty, now seems to
be the time to postpone the event indefinitely in order to focus our energies
on the task which is our charge – to serve those who come through our doors in
search of material and human support. Our goal each day is to improve the lives
of those who come to us in need.
But Hains said Catholic Charities’ work would continue
uninterrupted despite the fundraiser’s postponement.
“Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte has three offices in
the western part of North Carolina that serve thousands,” he said. “We have no
plans to change the services we offer or the work we do to meet the human
service needs of the people in need, regardless of their religion, in our
diocese.”
Williams claimed in a March 5 Facebook post she was fired from the event because of her
sexual orientation.
“Kat Williams Fired by Catholic Charities for Being Gay!” it
stated, asking readers to share the post.
However, the Church distinguishes between “being gay” and
committing homosexual acts. The Church teaches that the homosexual inclination
(i.e. the temptation to commit homosexual acts), while a disorder in the
person’s sexuality, is not sinful in itself; however, homosexual acts are
gravely sinful.
Williams also claimed she was being discriminated against in the
social media post, and said she “could handle” it, but that she was afraid for
homosexual members of the Church under Bishop Jugis.
She went on to say she was hurt and saddened, and proud to
identify as homosexual, and that the local religious community should “stand
with the teachings of Christ.”
“This is the first time I've been fired from a performance
solely based on who I chose to love,” Williams stated. “There are two things in
my life I didn't choose, to be Black and to be gay! I am proud to be both and
want our North Carolina religious community to stand with the teachings of
Christ - love, forgiveness, tolerance and inclusion.”
“I don't want people to retaliate or put forth any negativity,”
she continued. “I'd like us as a community to approach this issue with Love,
Compassion and Grace,” before providing links to other charities for readers to
support that were “inclusive.”
Williams was paid for the Catholic Charities engagement
regardless, but Hains was unable to confirm whether some individuals who’d
planned to attend had changed their minds or rescinded their contribution to
Catholic Charities because of what happened with Williams, as she’d stated in
media reports, because the diocese does not discuss individual giving.
Hains had told the media as well that Williams was owed an
apology, but clarified for LifeSiteNews, “The apology was only for the
confusion regarding her hire.”
Bishop Jugis is known for publicly defending the Catholic
Church’s moral principles in the past.
The Charlotte prelate intervened last year and directed one of the diocese’s
parishes to cancel a scheduled talk by a dissident nun censured for years by
both the US Bishops’ Conference and the Vatican for her continuous public
contradiction of Catholic Church teaching on homosexuality.
He also backed Dominican Sister Jane Dominic Laurel in 2014
after the nun gave a speech explaining Catholic teaching on sexuality to
students at Charlotte Catholic High School and her talk was met with backlash
from parents and students from the school.
Bishop Jugis was one of the many bishops to speak
against the
University of Notre Dame’s infidelity to Catholic
identity when the school
honored Barack
Obama in 2009 despite his rabid pro-abortion stance.
He stressed at the time that defending the sanctity of life
warranted a multi-layered approach involving both a Catholic witness and
catechesis, and that public outcry over Notre Dame’s decision must be
accompanied by ongoing catechesis in parishes
“The problem of the lack of respect for the right to life of the
unborn is so serious in our society that this multi-front approach is
essential, Bishop Jugis wrote in the Catholic News & Herald at the
time. “This is a task for laity, clergy, religious, parents and teachers -
in short, for everyone.”
