Mass. gay couple sues church over nixed house sale
Tags
Related Posts
About the author
A gay couple from Massachusetts sued a Roman Catholic diocese Monday for allegedly refusing to sell them a mansion because church officials were concerned they would host gay weddings there.
James Fairbanks, 59, and Alain Beret, 57, filed suit in Worcester Superior Court for loss of civil rights and dignity and for emotional distress.
The married couple from Sutton planned to buy Oakhurst, a former Catholic retreat center in Northbridge, and restore it as a place they could live and host a special events business.
But the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester ended negotiations in June, and the couple alleged they learned why in an email they inadvertently received in which diocesan Chancellor Thomas Sullivan cited concern “about the potentiality of gay marriages there.”
The couple’s attorney, Sergio Carvajal, said it’s obvious his clients were discriminated against because they’re gay.
“It is wrong and it is illegal,” he said.
But James G. Reardon Jr., an attorney for the diocese, said the diocese stopped negotiations over concerns about whether the buyers could finance the purchase. The email refers only to the possibility of gay weddings being held at the site, not the couple’s sexual orientation, which Reardon said never came up during negotiations.
“It wasn’t a case of discriminating against gay people. We didn’t even know they were gay,” Reardon said. [more]
SOURCE
Leave a Comment
Photo Archive
-
May 24, 2013 7:00
Historic vote to accept gays as Boy Scouts draws mixed faith response
-
May 24, 2013 6:55
Faith-Healing Churches linked to 2 dozen child deaths
-
May 24, 2013 6:51
Clergy campaign for indigent care
-
May 24, 2013 6:46
Five more come forward alleging abuse by Hawaii Catholic priests
-
May 23, 2013 1:58
Religious freedom reports see little improvement in troubling countries
-
May 23, 2013 1:43
LGBT Catholics find a new supporter: An openly gay priest
-
May 22, 2013 1:37
Tornadoes exact deadly toll; region needs ‘a lot of prayers right now’
-
May 22, 2013 1:32
State Dept. report says countries have repressed religious freedom with laws
-
May 22, 2013 1:23
2 lawsuits filed against Maine Catholic church
-
May 21, 2013 1:32
Church Whistle-Blowers Join Forces on Abuse
18 Comments
The RC bishops were not happy campers on these shores when the laws of mortmain limited their property holdings. That’s mostly changed now — so the church that was once limited and constrained by mortmain would now limit or ignore the rights of GLBT to own property!
Here in California, a broker could be disciplined for raising the issue of the buyer’s race, creed, color or sexual orientation with their client.
It would be illegal not to sell to the guys. The bottom line here is be careful what you say in an email!
What’s wrong with you? The bottom line here is don’t discriminate against people with whom you have non-relevant disagreements. It’s between the buyers and their bank/lenders as to whether or not they can finance their purchase or not, not the seller. And it not the responsibility of the seller to care about what happens to the property after it is sold to somebody else.
The church should not discriminate against (gay or straight) people because of the “potentiality of [hosting] gay marriages there” it is illegal and immoral, and is especially ridiculous that the plaintiff is an organization that prides itself on following the law and their own spiritual morality – THAT is the bottom line.
I remember being told of signs in store windows where workers were wanted that said, “Irish need not apply”. And Catholics were appalled. Now years later the Catholics are saying, Gays need not apply. When are we going to accept people for who they are? Haven’t we learned anything from the story of Bethlehem where there was no room for Jesus in the Inn?
And for those of us old enough to remember, Tony, before the civil rights laws, newspapers used to run wants ads specifying whether the applicants must be male or female.
As it should be.
So Jim, are you advocating for true discrrimination? Like let’s keep out anyone who isn’t like you, small minded, myopic, opinionated ultra conservative?
I long for the day when the RC church puts into practice the entire messsage of Jesus.
Concerned, I to long for the day when the church puts into practice the entire message of Jesus. Perhaps, Concerned you can start with an apology for your “preying mantis” comment which was sickening and not at all what would be expected from a woman, even less from a Catholic Lady.
Catholic Lady — thanks for calling Concerned back to the dignity God gave her as a woman. It was never God’s intention that a woman shouuld be so vile. But, I have no hard feelings for Concerned. In fact, I even remembered her and you and others at Mass yesterday (and maybe even this morning — but I can’t remember for sure). Talking with her actually provides amusement for me; and, I’m sure she is not the only person who thinks about me the way she does, so it is a learning opportunity for me to hear what some people think about me who never would tell me these things to my face. I do have a public life, and I do make public statements, and I’m sure some of those who hear me think about me exactly what Concerned does. So, she simply hardens me to the negativity out there, and helps me stay focused on the issue, which is doing God’s will and speaking the truth. It is not my job (or within my capability) to convert anyone. It is my job to speadk the truth; the Holy Spirit converts others whose hearts are receptive to the truth.
Perhaps it is because I am a Catholic lady or maybe it is because I am a Canadian Catholic but I honestly have difficulty understanding the people who post comments on “Catholic News U.S.A.”..the baiting of others, the unkind words used, the general nastiness and hurtful words for those whom they disagree with. All this lack of love for ones neighbour does real harm to the unity of our Catholic Church and pains our Lord. How does anyone become hardened to all this negativity from fellow Catholics?
Catholic Lady — you know from your experience of losing your husband (and I’m sure a variety of other things over the years) that life is, as we say in the “Hail, Holy Queen” prayer, a “valley of tears.” As the saying goes, if it doesn’t kill you, it will make your stronger. I too, though, share your amazement — not really about me being attacked, because I often state things precisely so that others will react to me — but amazement that so many people who consider themselves Catholic have beliefs that are, without a doubt, at significant variance with inerrant Magisterial teachings. Many here could easily pass as a Protestant; many also could pass as a New Age wiccan.
Jim just want to share that in all my years as a Protestant christian I have never had to deal with the nastiness & unkind words that I see posted on this site.
Sorry my previous post should read: In all the years that I was a Protestant I never had to deal with the kind of nastiness that I see posted on this site.
And, Catholic Lady, I meant no offense to you when I said that many here could be confused with a Protestant — Protestants, of course, are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I also agree with you that devout Protestants are much kinder than the folks here. This reflects the negligence of the Catholic clergy not being willing to tell people the truth. When I state the truth here on this site, you can see what happens to me. The same happens to Catholic priests when they speak the truth — they are attacked, and so many of them (to avoid trouble with a pusillanimous bishop) cave in and preach homily-light; they say things like, “Love your mother.” They don’t challenge Catholics to live their faith to its fullest.
I have been blessed with having a Priest who speaks the truth (kindly) however he does not avoid speaking the truth and or leading the sheep that he is responsible for. I am also blessed with having a wonderful group of Catholic friends, whom I admire and who are a good example for me. Blessings to you and your good wife, I will remember to pray for you both. good night.
Thanks for those prayers, Catholic Lady. I’m glad you have entered the Church — we all are better for it. I will be at Adoration early tomorrow morning, and I am asking God now to share those graces I will receive there with you and for repose of the soul of your husband.