Beloit Catholics Begin Withholding Campaign, Marissa Alter, WREX, May 16, 2009

Beloit Catholics Begin Withholding Campaign

By Marissa Alter
WREX
May 16, 2009

http://www.wrex.com/Global/story.asp?S=10372961

BELOIT (WREX) - Some Beloit Catholic parishioners protest the firing of a lay worker by not giving money to the Annual Catholic Appeal. And they want people in all Diocese of Madison churches to join them.

On March 12, Madison Bishop Robert Morlino fired Ruth Kolpack, a pastoral associate at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Beloit. Kolpack says she was let go after she refused to denounce her 2003 master's thesis on inclusive language. The bishop hasn't explicitly said that's the reason but told parishioners he's lost confidence in her ability to abide by Catholic teachings.

"The parishioners are so upset," says Jim Andrews, who's organized the "Stand with Ruth" campaign. "I would say 95% plus are in support of Ruth, and they're confused, and they're upset, and they don't understand why this took place."

Andrews says they tried talking to Bishop Morlino. Last month he visited St. Thomas. Some parishioners held signs, others gave testimony in support of Kolpack. But the bishop ruled not to reinstate her.

Ruth Kolpack, photo courtesy of www.madisondiocese.org

Now the campaign's moved from talk to action.

This weekend all parishes in the Madison Diocese are being asked to give an extra donation to the church as part of a special fundraising effort.

"And we're asking parishioners to take the envelopes, and we're asking them to write "reinstate Ruth" on the envelope, to turn the envelope in to the collection basket, but not to give money to the appeal at this time,"explains Andrews.

Parishioner Jim Andrews organized the effort to get Ruth reinstated.

"It's a very tangible way to send a message that we're not okay with this, and we're trying to get our voice heard," adds parishioner Stephanie King.

Campaign organizers don't know how many people will participate this weekend but hope it's enough to get Kolpack her job back.

"We thought long and hard before we decided to take this action," states Andrews. "But we feel it's the right step to do now because we're not getting the answers we need from the bishop."

Kolpack may also consider filing a lawsuit.

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 822 E. Grand Ave. in Beloit