File this one under sigh…
The Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has fired a woman whose duties were mainly to distribute food to the homeless because it was revealed that she is gay and in a same-sex marriage.
Except it doesn’t get any more ridiculous than this — her church already knew!
Colleen Simon wasn’t hiding her marriage from anyone. In fact, she’d discussed it with the pastor when she was hired. Her wife is a reverend, for (excuse my French) Christ’s sake.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But after Simon was profiled in an article for the Kansas City Star and “outed,” the Diocese felt it had no other option than to dismiss her from her job.
That whole “in charge of managing food services for 70 families in the community” thing? Not quite as important as cleansing the church payroll of sin.
But like a true Christian, Simon approaches the situation with compassion:
“You don’t want your legacy to be one of division and ugliness,” she said. “It’s awful. But there are laws, and until that law gets changed in the church, it is what it is.”
Which sounds a bit defeatist to me, but hey, what do I know about Jesus?
It’s high time those laws are changed, seeing as the majority of U.S. Catholics support gay marriage.
I get that religious institutions are by definition stuck in the past, but welcome to the present! It’s time to start embodying those ideals you spout out to your flock.
Chris Vogel
It is obviously a huge mistake to contribute to Catholic charities.
SpunkyBunks
We need to get rid of the NON PROFIT status of religious organizations. They are nothing but political and real-estate FOR PROFIT business entities.
Why should we (taxpayers) subsidize their politically harmful and pro-discrimination agendas?
TampaBayTed
I never contributed to Catholic Charities or the Salvation Army. We have local charities that feed the homeless and provide shelter to them without the crushing religious hierarchy and religiously based rules. Don’t forget the Catholic organizations in Illinois who threw the kids under the bus when they had to let gay people adopt.
Mezaien
Christianity IS the enemy of humanity.
aequalitasTN
Funny how the bishop of this diocese (Finn) was indicted a couple of years ago for covering up sexual abuse of children by priests; this same bishop was the person who is believed to have fired Ms. Simon.
LubbockGayMale
How many of those hungry homeless refused food because of her orientation? None I’d bet…
Dakotahgeo
I’m starting to believe that Christ grounded his earthly church on a rock. Unfortunately, they haven’t had a new idea since they set the church on that hard stony surface. St. Peter must be so embarrassed and ashamed! Bishop Finn-flop is an Opus Dei JOKE! Same as Kansas Governor Brownsh*t! errr,…Brownback Mountain!
DickieJohnson
This is not only insane and ridiculous, but totally beyond outrageous, especially since Ms Simon told of her same-sex marriage before being hired! Do none of the “christian” religions read the Gospels, Jesus’ actual teachings? I pray that, at least, the diocese doesn’t allow the hungry-homeless suffer any.
Dinodogstar
..sending out a lotta love for my Missouri homies…
Missouri, what a difficult puzzle here in the Midwest.. We can have all the typical lack of instantaneous warmth in the breadbasket, and we can harbor the conservative bent of the Midwest, and yet still embrace our southern Confederate alliances with open racism and general intolerance of anything left-of-center..
We can concede and draft Michael Sam ( the gay football player) {who deserved to be signed earlier though his hot-potato issue kept him on the shelf}, but we local don’t want to hear anymore about his “private” personal life, about the gay agenda he is rushing for, and that the overall should be ignored, in kindness, at best.
But Saint Louis and Kansas City are pretty safe for gay refugees, as long aw we observe the expected minding of our-own-business and keep quiet, unchallenging, and generally passable. Tolerance of diversity>>a tough nut to crack here in Missouri.
Alton
Here’s a crazy notion: STOP WORKING FOR PEOPLE WHO HATE YOU AND HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO FIRE YOU JUST BECAUSE THEY HATE YOU.
This isn’t like someone working in an advertising office or beauty salon who got canned because they were gay. There are – in some places, and should be, in ALL places – laws to protect people from being fired on the basis of sexual orientation and sexual identity. But there will NEVER be a law forbidding religious institutions from firing gay people, and we shouldn’t keep trying to shame them into accepting one. LET THEM DIE. They serve no practical purpose but to separate the poor and gullible from their money. LET BIGOTED RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS DIE.
There are plenty of secular charities that would LOVE to have a wonderful woman like this on staff. Why she would devote her time to working for an organization that distributes far more ignorance and bigotry to the needy than food, is beyond me. If you’re that starved for spiritual connections, there are DOZENS of accepting faith-based organizations that would welcome you with open arms, and they all have charities that yearn for you help.
Let the Catholics sell their billions in gold and art and give it to the poor if they care so much. Let them sell their castle in Rome, or better yet, turn it into a shelter for the sick and homeless. If they’re not willing to do those things, which are supposed to be at the very HEART of their faith, WHY ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH WOULD YOU GO THROUGH THEM TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE?
APF66
Being Christian does not make you a Catholic.
I am a Progressive Christian who goes to an MCC Church.
I have not been a Catholic since I turned 18.
Please get your facts straight before making ignorant comments.
APF66
@Mezaien: Not all Christians are Catholics
toberlin
Dinodogstar:
Where are they?There have to be also a lot of people who are straight who want more tolerance of diversity too.I mean live is better/ more fun for all people with.Do they snooze?
toberlin
…I am angry/sad.These “happen every day”stories give me a heavy heart.
xzall
It’s sad but I kind of agree with Alton. It’s not like it’s a big secret that the Catholic church fires you if you’re gay and decide to announce your marriage in any way. The one constant in all those stories is that the gay person doesn’t get their job back and the ones doing the firing feel no shame about it. Wake up people and realize if you’re gay, there’s no such thing as job security in the Catholic church. If you’re gay Catholic charity workers, choir directors, pianist, office worker, janitor etc. start polishing your resumé now.
Harley
She was obviously victimizing all the Christians around her by simple breathing and doing good deeds. All those Christians must really be battered and bruised with all the bullying she was doing by feeding the poor. Oh, the persecutions of the Christians.
toberlin
It is not just the story of a woman get punished by a religious group while standing up for her country.It is much more the whole situation that dinodogstar describes.The” You are O.K “-situation as long you “are not challenging/keep quiet/mind your-own-business” is choking me.And there must be also people who are straight there who feel the same…Go and get them (or wake them up :)..
Merv
The homeless should be fed because they’re hungry, not for being gay. That’s just silly.
@Mezaien: @APF66: @APF66: Mezaien, you’ll notice that the Christians who are not anti-gay never open their mouths to request anti-gay Christians not speak for them, but only to self-righteously correct non-religious folks. The message is clear: Inter-denominational comity is more important to them than civil rights.