WORCESTER (MA)
The Guardian (United Kingdom)
[House of Affirmation – BishopAccountability.org]
Adam Gabbatt and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Monday 10 September 2012
A gay couple is suing the Catholic church in Massachusetts for allegedly refusing to sell them a mansion out of concern that they would host same-sex weddings at the site.
James Fairbanks and Alain Beret filed their discrimination lawsuit against the Catholic diocese of Worcester in county’s superior court on Monday.
They allege that they were in negotiations to buy Oakhurst, a former retreat center in Northbridge, when church officials suddenly pulled out due to the possibility of same-sex marriage ceremonies being held there. …
Sullivan told the Globe, however, that the church has a policy of not selling properties where Mass has been held to people who plan to host same-sex weddings. The same applied to other developers who planned to use former church properties for things the church deemed inappropriate, such as abortion clinics or bars.
“We wouldn’t sell our churches and our properties to any of a number of things that would reflect badly on the church,” he told the newspaper. “These buildings are sacred to the memory of Catholics.”
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