Gay priest vindicated
Chestnut Hill College quietly changed its "no gays allowed" policy last week, 10 months after firing Father Jim St. George.
Gay priest vindicated
Ronnie Polaneczky, Daily News Columnist
File this in the "How do you like that?" category:
Ten months ago, there was an uproar when Father Jim St. George, an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College, was fired by the school for being gay. (Read my February blog post about it here).
At the time, college President Carol Jean Vale SSJ stated that, "While we welcome diversity, it is expected that all members of our College community, regardless of their personal beliefs, respect and uphold our Roman Catholic mission, character and values both in the classroom and in public statements that identify them with our school. For this reason, we chose not to offer an aditional teaching contract to St. George."
Much heated discussion ensued. Finally, Father Jim and the college agreed to respect each other's differences and went their separate ways. (Father Jim, pastor of St. Miriam parish, is a Catholic priest in the Antioch rite, which allows its priests to be male or female, straight or gay, married or single.)
Well last week, the college quietly changed it's "no gays allowed" policy at the small liberal arts college on the western edge of the city.
Here's the school's new take on diversity:
"Chestnut Hill College, founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, is committed to an active inclusive love of all people without distinction. Therefore, it is the policy of Chestnut Hill College that no person will be discriminated against by Chestnut Hill College in admission to or participation in any educational program and, moreover, no person will be discriminated against in employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, termination or forms of compensation or on any other terms of employment. Discrimination on any of the following basis is prohibited: race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, disability, or status as a veteran. Chestnut Hill College follows the June, 2011, Fair Practices Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia (9-1100) as well as other local, state, and federal laws."
I called Father Jim for a reaction. Here's what he wrote me in an e-mailed statement:
"I am very grateful to hear of this new policy at Chestnut Hill. I can’t help but feel somewhat vindicated, but harbor no ill will. I wish them continued success as they continue to welcome all persons in the spirit of our Catholic heritage. I miss teaching and miss my students, but I am grateful to hear of this policy implementation."
Amen to that.
Update on 12/9/11:
The above was posted at the end of the day yesterday, so I was unable to get a comment from Chestnut Hill College as to why the school amended its policy. I'd wanted to know if Father JIm's situation last winter had anything to do with the change.
Today, I received an emailed response from communications director Kathleen Spigelmyer, who wrote:
"It is a common practice of the College to update its policies so that they are current. Therefore, last week, the College updated its Non-Discrimination Policy to reflect June 2011 changes to the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance. The College remains committed to a policy that embraces diversity and prohibits discrimination in any form with respect to employment or its educational mission. The situation with Father Jim St. George was amicably resolved months ago and we have no further comment about it."
So there ya go.
Comment removed.- why is a non-roman catholic allowed to teach theology at a roman catholic college?
— oliver north 
why do you continue to give this fraud publicity?— Paul Deon- Comment removed.
- ARE YOU KIDDING ME, RONNIE! Everyone on these boards crushes you over this fraud! Are you some sort of masochist? Why would you bring his name up again? That story almost ruined you!— BillyDelco
- All those gay nuns and priests - guess they finally had it with the hypocrisy.— Boru
- Hate the sin not the sinner. Catholocism doesn't hate gays. It does hold that gay sex is sinful. A celabate priest should not have to worry about this. Any priest having sex, except those rare priest who have been granted the right to be married, are engaging in sinful behavior.— Commonesnes
- Truly the essence of Christ-the real faith-the Catholic Faith_ always allows for mercy while acknowledging that sin exists — jjmac777
- Comment removed.
- About time - gay folks have been performing well in many jobs and professions - despite the ugly discrimination that many of them find. This is a welcome move!— SoundGround
- True or False Catholic Priests and even Popes were routinely married? True.
For Extra credit-did it change in 1196 at the 2nd Latern Council or during the Council of Trent in 1545?
For extra, extra credit - true or fales did Pope Paul VI explaine that while celibacy is a "dazzling jewel," it is not "required by the nature of the priesthood itself. This is clear from the practice of the early church itself and the traditions of the Eastern churches."
And finally for extra, extra credit what changed the chruche's position on the marriage of priests? God or the issue of passing land and other worldly belongings to a priest's heirs or the church.
— Phred615 - wow now that this religious crisis is solved, how about muslim women being allowed to touch a cucumber.— TKL008
- Who caes, phred, it has been Church rule for 1000 years. Get over it.— mike l
- But can't admit that their change of heart might have been caused by someone who was...er...disobedient. Disobedience is a bigger sin in the RC Church than homosexuality is, believe it or not.— farhorizons
- To the haters on here that think that they speak for the majority of the people - why is that every - I mean every - poll shows that the vast majority of people support gay rights??? So maybe the few repeat offenders on here - are just that a few loudmouths that only speak for a small vocal minority of pea brains??— SoundGround
When my phone rings here at the Daily News, nine times out of ten the caller begins the conversation with, “Yeah, so what happened was…”.
Because this is Philly, the caller doesn’t say, “My name is Bob” – or Mary – “and I wonder if I could have a moment of your time?” Philadelphians are too direct for that. They just say, “Yeah, so what happened was…”, and then tumble into a tale they think oughta be shared with a wider audience. I love getting these calls (even the ones where it becomes clear, after 30 seconds, where the caller sowed the seeds of his own misery), because they give me chance to connect with fellow citizens in a way that no other job allows. Well, okay, no other job for which I’m remotely qualified.
That’s why my blog is titled “So What Happened Was…”. To me, it’s the quintessentially Philly way of saying, “Once upon a time.” When I hear it, I know a good story is coming. And I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Ronnie Polaneczky has been an award-winning columnist for The Philadelphia Daily News since 1999, offering a front-steps perspective on every aspect of city life, from the sublime to the stupid. In her past life, she was the editor-in-chief of Atlantic City Magazine, associate editor at Philadelphia Magazine and a fulltime freelancer published in Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Reader's Digest, Men's Health, MarieClaire and others. She lives with her husband, daughter and various pets in the city's Fairmount section, where she dreams of one day singing The National Anthem at an Eagles game. In addition to her column and blog, you can enjoy Ronnie's musings in podcast form here.
Read more from Ronnie Polaneczky at Earth to Philly, the Daily News blog on anything and everything "Green
Reach Ronnie at polaner@phillynews.com.
