WORCESTER (MA)
The MetroWestDaily News
By Mike Gleason/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News
WORCESTER —
Two men filed suit against the Worcester Diocese of the Catholic Church Monday, claiming the church refused to sell them a Northbridge property because they were gay and could possibly hold gay marriages there.
James Fairbanks and Alain Beret filed a complaint in Worcester Superior Court that claims House of Affirmation, an affiliate of the diocese, illegally discriminated against the couple in declining to sell them Oakhurst, a 44-bedroom Northbridge mansion.
The diocese, though, said the sale was not made because of financial concerns. …
Gavin Reardon, an attorney representing the diocese, said sexual orientation was not the reason the property was not sold.
“The diocese does not see this as discrimination against a gay person,” he said. “This is a case of a failed real estate transaction.”
According to Reardon, there was never a purchase and sale agreement in place.
“No one at the diocese ever asked about the buyer’s sexual orientation,” he said. “They didn’t come up with the financing.”
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