WORCESTER (MA)
WBUR
[with audio]
By David Boeri September 10, 2012 Updated September 11, 2012
WORCESTER, Mass. — An email written by a monsignor has triggered the filing of a discrimination suit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester by two gay developers.
The men allege that the diocese rejected their bid to purchase a church-owned mansion because of the possibility the hotel the men planned to develop would host gay marriages. …
Gavin Reardon, the attorney for the diocese, denies this. “We never asked their sexual orientation and never knew it,” he said.
But in a sensational act of inadvertence, when the broker for the diocese emailed the would-be buyers that there would be no deal, she attached an internal email she’d received from Monsignor Thomas Sullivan.
“When I read the monsignor’s email, and he said because of the potential of gay marriages there, we no longer want to continue with those buyers,” Beret said.
Actually, the monsignor said even more. Here’s a transcript of the email:
LiSandra,
I just [w]ent down the hall and discussed it with the bishop. Because of the potentiality of gay marriages there, something you shared with us yesterday, we aren’t interested in going forward with these buyers. I think they’re shaky anyway. So just tell them that we will not accept their revised plan and the Diocese is making new plans for the property. You find the language.
Msgr Tom
And here’s a transcript of what the diocese’s broker then sent to the couple’s agent:
Good morning Gary;
We would like to thank you and your buyers for submitting a new revised counter offer. After careful review and consideration, the seller has decided to not accept the new revised counter offer and pursue other plans with the property at this time. Best wishes to you and your buyers.
My best,
LiSandra Rodriguez-Pagan
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