Congregates of a Michigan Catholic church are outraged that their long-time music director was dismissed after church leaders discovered that he married his same-sex partner four years ago.
Fred Szczepanski — affectionately known as “Mr. Fred” to fellow parishioners — served as the music director at Traverse City’s St. Francis Catholic Church for 35 years before he was abruptly fired last month.
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Szczepanski told the Traverse City Record-Eagle that parish administrator Rev. Michael Lingaur informed him on October 18 that church leadership had received a letter from an unnamed person notifying them that Szczepanski had married his long-time partner in Nevada in 2020.
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Szczepanski says he confirmed that he and his husband Bill Thompson were married. Lingaur not only fired Szczepanski, who had already announced his upcoming retirement, but reportedly told him he could no longer take communion during mass at St. Francis.
Pastoral council member Dave Martin told the Traverse City Record-Eagle that he received the letter about Szczepanski’s marriage. He didn’t name the sender, but told the Traverse City Record-Eagle that the sender had a “seasonal connection” to the church and that the letter had an out-of-state postmark.
In a statement, the Diocese of Gaylord said that it takes “employee privacy very seriously” and declined to “disclose details about individual personnel matters.”
Renee Shimmel, a spokesperson for the diocese, told local outlet The Ticker that “the bishop and diocesan HR director provide guidance and assistance” in such matters, but ultimately leave decisions up to individual parishes.
Friends say Szczepanski told them that Bishop Jeffrey Walsh refused to get involved, even after one of St. Francis’s deacons complained about Szczepanski’s dismissal.
St. Francis parishioners have staged protests in recent weeks, picketing outside the church during October 27 services with signs reading “Love Not Hate,” “God Includes, Not Excludes,” and “Fired Not Retired,” the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. Members of the choir also staged their own silent protest during a recent mass, wearing black and refusing to sing.
“You can tell by the reaction of the choir, we’re not taking it lying down,” choir member and Cantor Robert DeGabriele told the paper.
“He got fired because he’s gay,” fellow choir member Bob Holden said. “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?”
Others pointed out the diocese’s hypocrisy in firing Szczepanski, while the church’s previous leader, Rev. Don Geyman, was merely transferred to another parish after being credibly accused of sexual misconduct.
“It’s despicable what has happened and how it has happened,” choir member Sherry Koenig said. “Mr. Fred is kind, honorable and caring.”
Liz Yarch told The Ticker that it was well known that Szczepanski is gay, and that she believes Lingaur, who was only installed as Geyman’s replacement in July, is entirely responsible for his dismissal.
“Fred was fired for his personal life and I find that cruel,” Yarch told the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
While Szczepanski has not commented on whether he plans to take legal action, according to the paper, a GoFundMe campaign launched to raise money to cover his insurance costs and legal fees has raised nearly $52,000.
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