Chicago Cardinal Meets With Gay Church Music Director Fired After Getting Engaged to Partner
Chicago Cardinal, Francis George met this week with a gay music director who was recently fired from his position at his church after getting engaged to his partner.
Colin Colette was recently let go from his position at Holy Family Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois and immediately requested to meet with the Cardinal who responded rather promptly.
Colette discussed the meeting with the Chicago Tribune and told the publication that the two prayed together.
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"I was incredibly grateful to the cardinal for meeting with me," he said of the Catholic leader currently battling cancer. "This is an incredibly difficult time for him… I was moved beyond words that he would meet with me. We prayed together, he was wonderful. He was very pastoral."
Colette sought out the Cardinal in hopes of getting his job back. George urged the now defunct music director to speak to his church pastor.
"My head is sort of spinning, but as I said over and over, my whole life has been the church," he said. "It's my love. It's my passion, and I pray for the opportunity to do that," he said.
"I'm not that naïve to know that there are some people who believe that who I am basically is wrong. I'm not that naïve, but the love and support I have received is truly humbling and is beyond words."
Collette was fired from the position in July of this year. Several members in the church opposed the decision as hundreds of people attended a parish meeting last month where a majority of them voiced support for Collette.
He previously told the Chicago Tribune he was fired once news of his engagement to fiancé William Nifong spread via Facebook. Holy Family first asked him to resign, but he refused. Colette was later told that his services were no longer needed.
