A gay man who married his long-term
partner has been asked to resign from his post as music director at a
Catholic Church in Minnesota.
According to CBS
affiliate WCCO, after Jamie Manzi-Moore married over the weekend,
Archbishop John Nienstedt asked him to resign the post he's held for
17 years at St. Victoria Catholic Church.
Manzi-Moore said Father Bob White had
pleaded with Nienstedt to keep him in the position.
White referred to Manzi-Moore as “our
beloved director of music” in an email notifying the congregation
of the decision.
“I was heartbroken. I was absolutely
heartbroken,” Manzi-Moore told the television station.
In a statement, Nienstedt said
Manzi-Moore's actions were “contrary to the Catholic faith.”
Nienstedt, a vocal opponent of marriage
equality, was recently accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with
seminarians, priests and other men. The church has started an
investigation and Nienstedt has denied the allegations.
(Related: Archbishop
John Nienstedt: I'm not gay.)