So it's official: Father Jim was fired for being gay
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So it's official: Father Jim was fired for being gay
Ronnie Polaneczky, Daily News Columnist
When Chestnut Hill College fired Father Jim St. George from a teaching gig, no one at the school would tell him why his services were no longer needed. You can read my column about it here.
Late last night, college President Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, finally offered an explanation. Father Jim was fired for being gay. Here's the statement she released to the public:
"As president of Chestnut Hill College, a private Catholic institution, it is imperative that I clarify the conditions of our College's decision not to issue a new part-time teaching contract to Jim St. George.
"St. George served as adjunct instructor in our School of Continuing and Professional Studies from January 2010 to February of this year teaching a variety of courses in religion and scripture.
"At the time St. George joined our faculty, he presented himself as Father St. George and openly wore a traditional Catholic priest's collar. While St. George appears to be an ordained pastor-he leads St. Miriam, an independent and self-described reformed Antioch-rite Catholic house of worship located in Blue Bell, Pa.--his church allows priests the option to engage in same-sex partnerships.
"This is contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. It was with great disappointment when we learned through St. George's public statements of his involvement in a gay relationship with another man for the past 15 years.It is important to note that this information came to our attention only after St. George chose to make his private life public information on his blog.
"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 additional teaching contract to St. George."
So here's a question: Will Vale fire all staff members whose lives, in any way, reflect aspects that are "contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church"?
Are other gay staffers going to get canned? What about staffers who use birth control? Who have had or support abortion? Who are divorced? Who, ahem, masturbate (an act of which the Vatican said Pope said is "a grave moral disorder" and "intrinsically and seriously disordered act")?
Meantime, below is a news piece about the controversy, which aired last night on Fox-TV.
The Boy Scouts don't allow gays, but I'm sure they have no problem considering divorced Scout Masters or Den Mothers "morally straight", so why should Chestnut Hill be any different?— HazmatCorntail- They look the other way on child molesters for decades, but this they are all over. — JonKap
Comment removed.- You can be gay, but you just can't act gay? WOW, that makes a whole lotta sense. Typical Catholic babble. It's your way of hating others, but making yourself be ok with it.
— ej610 - Comment removed.
- You like labeling people huh Jerry? Makes you little world a little safer? No one is a liberal or a conservative or a this or a that. If your child was gay you would find a way to be more liberal. If you were told your kid's life could be saved with stem cells, you would find a way to be liberal. Atheists magically get a little religious in a foxhole. We are all a mix of everything, depending on the situation we find ourselves in. — JonKap
- JonKap, what planet do you live on? Try reading your statement beginning with the phrase "no one is a liberal or..." That makes NO sense. I've met numerous individuals who proudly apply those labels to themselves. Moreover, the rest of your post reflects mere leftist wishful thinking. I've known numerous parents who have roundly disapproved of the life choices made by their children. I daresay most parents have done this. This is NORMAL common-sense behavior. You post like someone who has lived a very sheltered life... — George Tomezsko
- Actually, ej, what we have here, judging from your post, a bad case of inferior reading comprehension enhanced by anti-Catholic bigotry. You might want to re-read the above screed from Ronnie. The individual in question was fired for being an ACTIVE homosexual, that is, one who actually did that type of activity, which IS incompatible with Catholic teaching. All you have proved is that the only babblers are leftists who post without doing their homework... — George Tomezsko
- yet ACTIVE pedophiles are protected by the church. hypocrites! priests raped children and bevilacqua ACTIVELY protected them! apparently that is compatible with catholic teaching. — regisisking
- An EXCELLENT post, JerryD! Not is it dead-on accurate, but attracted flack from the left's ad hominem attack brigade, You know you're on the proper course when those types sound off. These intellectual refugees from the Sixties all sound and post alike: if you disagree with the left's agenda, you are automatically a bigot, especially if you disagree with their most precious sacrament, namely, that "anything goes" sexually. So take heart, Jerry: the sun of history is setting on them and their causes. You may define them as intellectual rubble left over from the Sixties... — George Tomezsko
- the pope is actively gay ... has a male companion who travels with him everywhere. time for the pope to be fired. — regisisking
- Dear regisisking: your case of political correctness is becoming terminal... — George Tomezsko
- If he were a pedophile he would probably still be employed at Chestnut Hill College.— ej610
- If he were a pedophile he would be an archbishop laying covering fire for all of the other child molesters wearing a collar. — Nutball
- Comment removed.
Chestnut Hill College isn't even a Catholic College anymore they and Rosemont are Outsiders... Cabrini is Making a Change back to Catholicism Cabrini Got their First Priest Chaplin on campus in over 25 years..two years ago..— Kevinmac- Why every gay related article always allowed comments, but not the articles about pedophile priests, or most religious articles?— ej610
why would they ever have hired a non-Catholic to teach theology? that's like hiring a druid to teach the torah— oliver north- or, that's like hiring a catholic to teach logic — regisisking
- Here's JerryD again the Archbishop's valet. Hey Jerr, why is the Standard and Times issuing lengthy apologies for sexual abuse that you wrote ended long ago and is no longer and issue?— mick-of-the-moment
- Comment removed.
- catholics believe what they believe
like it or not, trying to tell them they have to conform to your moral standards in their own house is not a way forward
they don't pray in my school, I don't think in their church, it's all good— colbertforpresident - Ej610, you obviously have an ax to grind against Catholics. Here's the thing: you are absolutely right about your statement that it's acceptable for a Catholic to BE gay, as long as he or she doesn't ACT gay. This is not a contradiction. The point is that you can disapprove of homosexual activity but love and support the person. Ghandi (not a Catholic) said "Hate the sin, but love the sinner." Easy-E (also not a Catholic) said: "Don't hate the playa, hate the game."— tjh4242
- Now maybe Christine Flowers and other homophobes will finally realize that what gays want is not "special rights." They want not to be discriminated against. Pretty simple. Not special. But not always granted.— Bartleby
- President Vale, you're nose is growing!— Boru
- Comment removed.
- It's very interesting that the Catholicism bashers can not write a comment without resorting to vulgarity!!
What does that tell you about their intellectual competence???— Pete H - Comment removed.
- Can "whatever" mean a homophobic bigot? How about that huge apology issued by the Standard and Times about that non-issue child rape problem that you wrote was in the past. Are you going to visit Fr. Lynn in jail? — mick-of-the-moment
- What causes a person to be gay? Is it genetic or a lifestyle choice? If it is genetic then how can people be discriminated against because of their sexual preference? If it is not why would anyone chose to be gay with all the problems it makes for them. It would really be nice to finally know what causes people to be gay.— mindstorms
- I thought I saw a stegosaurus tromping around Chestnut Hill.— tdcuse
- STOP SENDING TUITION PAYMENTS TO CHC and STOP ALL CATHOLIC DONATIONS NOW.
Money talks people. Wake up....... Shame on you Sister Jean.— SmartenUp - Are there any Jesuits teaching at Chestnut Hill College ?
Estimates I have heard are that 50% of Jesuits are gay.
Will Vale fire all staff members whose lives, in any way, reflect aspects that are "contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church"?
If she doesn’t , it might be a Constitutional question - First Amendment - ‘Selective Enforcement’.
Either fire everybody acting contrary to the teachings of the RCC, or fire nobody.
Chestnut Hill - headed for becoming the college with no teachers.
( Selective Enforcement - flashback to the 60s - we shall overcome. )
Or Vale can admit she caved when Justin R glared at her.
WWJD ?
— Damsel555 - Dude wasn't fired for being gay he was fired for being dishonest. Had he been honest he would never have been hired. He never would have been hired, not for being gay, but for being in non-agreement with the schools doctrinal view. This man doesn't want equal rights, he wants the right to force others to accept his views/beliefs. Seems like there's a bigot for every hypocrite these days.— grev63
- I don't care if you fire somebody because you think they're ugly, that's your business as an employer. If he's a good teacher it's their loss. Plenty of organizations looking for good teachers that are AOK with any sexual orientation.— Gray Areas
- DAmsel555 you get the "I call Bullsheet" award...Throwing riduculous poll percentages into a discussion. Did you take that poll? Although reading the rest of your rant I'd say 100% of readers think you're wacko.— Gray Areas
- The Catholic Church is against homosexuality - not really a mystery to most of us. Knowing that, why would a gay man want to teach at their school? Any organization, including a religious one, has the right to determine the conditions of membership. This country is based upon the freedom of any such group to assemble & believe what they want to believe. Save the outrage & just choose not to be involved with a group that is against your beliefs.— LaFonda
- It sounds like discrimination to me . This Catholic Institution has non Catholics attending the School doesn't this make a double standard. you can pay money to the school and attend no matter what your personal character or religion is...sounds like a good Law Suite.— realtime
- I want to emphasize that anti-Catholic opinions do not by definition constitute bigotry. I am foursquare against the Roman Catholic Church for three principal reasons: 1) This church subordinates individual consciences to its extremely heavy institutional weight, 2) It controls the opinions of its adherents in a way that is detrimental to public, democratic debate, and 3) It diverts the attention of its adherents from political issues that matter -- war, medical and elder care, poverty, environmental justice -- to questions that matter much less, mainly sexual ones. And yes, I know that the church hierarchy makes statements about the aforementioned big issues, but from the pulpit, where it counts, most Catholics hear much more about abortion, birth control, homosexuality, and so forth. I do not believe that pointing these things out makes me a bigot. I think it makes me a critic.— Dave Clemens
- The Catholic Church's inability to see that a few things have changed since the year one has kept it in a state of denial for generations. The have been yielding the "ultimate power" like a baby does a rattle. They have had a "dont ask, dont tell" policy for centuries. Faith is fine, as long as it doesnt stand in opposition to reality.— OldSouthPhilly
- Does Chestnut Hill College participate in the federal student loan program? If so why are they allowed to take a form of federal assistance and then discriminate?— mick-of-the-moment
- So it is ok, in the Catholic Church, to be a pedophile, abuse kids for years, get caught, get moved to a different city....and do it all over again...That's ok. Any other organization in the world who operated like this would be disbanded. What a joke those hypocrites are. Modern Religion, very corrupt.— mlwmlw
- If he misrepresented himself on his educational background and experience - Fire him. If he misrepresentged himself as a Roman Catholic Priest - fire him. If he supports a sexual relationship for priests, who are sworn to celibacy, fire him for violating his vows.— jtw
- seems as if the DN got him fired or he wanted to be. What did he expect? He was obviously marketing his church and that was more important to him than teaching. If he is a good teacher, I am sure he can pick up a class somewhere....Villanova?— Philip Parker
- brppkshire, the Church is not loaded with gay priests, nor gay pedophiles. First off, pedohiles are just that, not gay or otherwise. Plenty of "heterosexual" pedophiles out there. Just as many gay priests as there are gay men throughout the world. You know as much about this as you so about sports.— mike l
- 'The Church' wonders why it's losing parishioners.
i'm an atheist, proud to be one for this reason and others, but i agree that "this is what the church teaches" and they should be free to make these decisions. The Catholic doctrine is that being who are born as is wrong...lets put it all out there. The church is anti-biology and anti-fact. Wow...there's a revelation.— jakeAZ - I love how it OK to call all catholic priest pedophile because of a certain few but if I were to say all Muslims are terrorists I would be vilified by all. All you people who follow the masses would be the same ones that would fall under Hitler's grand scheme. I am not a practicing Catholic but they are good ofr society. Everyone on here is so ignorant. I hope when your grand hildren live in a world so dehumanized and all Muslim worshipping you are able to think back to how you played a part in it all. Keep believing everything you read and don't bother to think with any reason at all just make sure you don't seperate yourself from the pack— BentLogic
- The title is wrong: Father Jim was not fired for "being" gay. Whether the reason he was fired was because he broke his VOW OF CHASTITY or because he participated in homosexual acts is unclear to me, but he was NOT fired for being gay. Change the title, biased columnist.— MikeBrooks806
- no one lies better than a nun— regisisking
- As a Chestnut Hill alumna I am deeply saddened by the college's actions. The college has fired a teacher who was clearly not only competent but well-respected by his students. I am grateful that they weren't firing gay teachers when I attended Chestnut Hill years ago because I would have missed out on some truly inspired teaching. It's an embarassment that this man was terminated in so callous a manner and particularly that his firing was in response to a complaint from a bigot. I am ashamed of Chestnut Hill College and will never support it financially again.— ChescoMom
- ChescoMom, your are clearly suffering from an advanced case of leftism. The issues here are that the "reverend" in question is NOT a Catholic priest and apparently misrepresented himself when first hired. Moreover, the purpose of a Catholic college is to teach, in its theology courses, Catholicism, and that includes (whether it offends your leftist ears or not) the church's teachings on sexuality and family life. Get used to it. I can only shake my head at the extremely biased approach you leftists take here: your position is as absurd as arguing the Communist Party should be run by capitalists. They would never allow that (logically preferring Marxists as members) and so the Catholic Church should be allowed to remove those who will not teach Catholicism from its schools. The shoddy intellectual efforts put forth by your side of the political spectrum is the major reason your side is sololy losing the Culture War. — George Tomezsko
- This official public statement is very clear and to the point. It establishes with no room for debate that homophobic bigotry is the official policy of the RC Church. We all knew this before, but here is a full confession. Kudos to church officials for finally coming clean. This kind of candor and honesty is unprecedented.— prenestino
- There are some key facts that many of you have missed: He is NOT a Roman Catholic. He did not take vows of celibacy. In his church priests may marry. When he was hired he emphasized he was NOT an RC priest and was told this would not be a problem, that they hired people from all religions— prenestino
- Father Jim is a victim of homophobia and represents one of the last vestiges of social and human rights prejudices. I received two masters degrees from CHC and was taught to engage in a complex process of moral reasoning. The stuff that's coming from CHC is based in fear, personal protection, and deference to power and money. I stand with Father Jim and Christ, who engaged in community with those who are outcasts.— demeter47
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.
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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.
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