Well...looks like the Chruch is moving to consolidate its power on social issues...even here in progressive Massachusetts.
State Representative Barbara L'Italien has been asked by St. Augustine's Catholic Church to step down from her duties as cantor and leader of the children's choir. Their reasoning, she's a Democratic Pro-Choice legislator.
Here's the article, since the Lawrence-Eagle Tribune front page changes often.
ANDOVER -- State Rep. Barbara L'Italien was asked by the pastor of her church, St. Augustine's, to step down as cantor and head of the youth choir because of her pro-choice stance on abortion.
L'Italien, a life member of the church, says she refused the requests made by the church's new pastor, the Rev. William M. Cleary.
"I was told that because I am a legislator and a Democrat I was being asked to step down," she said. "This has upset my whole home. I am a pretty unlikely and undeserving target of this."
Cleary said this morning his decision to ask her to step down has nothing to do with her party affiliation. Rather, he says, he cannot have someone in a leadership position who is in favor of abortion.
"In this particular case we're dealing with a person who is against the church's position," Cleary said. "I can't allow her to be in a public posture -- to be standing up at the pulpit singing or directing singing."
Cleary says he has no problems with L'Italien receiving Communion or working with children "behind the scenes." While he says his decision was not based on her being a Democrat, Cleary did say Democrats, in general, are more inclined to be pro-choice.
L'Italien says Cleary first contacted her by phone on Nov 3. -- a day after she was re-elected to a second legislative term. The following day he came to her home and asked her to resign from the church youth choir, which she has helped lead for the past four years, and from her position leading song in the church, which she called cantoring.
L'Italien is one of five parents who run the youth choir, which serves children from age 4 to grade six. Three of her four children have been involved in the choir since it started in 2001, but L'Italien said Cleary did not want her children to resign.
She said cantoring involves her standing on the altar alone and leading song during church services.
L'Italien said she had two meetings with Cleary. The first was at her home, where Cleary spent an hour and a half speaking with L'Italien, her husband and her 80-year-old mother.
During the second meeting, Cleary said she could remain on the youth choir if she stopped cantoring.
"I've been a lifelong member of that church," said L'Italien, D-Andover, adding that she attended St. Augustine Grammar School and has sung her entire life.
She said she told Cleary she has her own personal view but she is sworn to uphold the law and represent a broad range of people.
L'Italien said she has spoken out against the death penalty and casino gambling, and considers her defining issues as her work for the elderly and the disabled. But she said Cleary seemed only interested in her stance on abortion. L'Italien said she cannot make the decision of reproductive choice for anyone else.
The pastor's request, "just really saddens me and has caused me immense pain," she said. "And I think the reason is unjust."
L'Italien said she has spent her entire life as an active Catholic. She has taught CCD at St. Augustine's and her husband teaches it now.
She said she will not consider the request official until she receives it in writing.
L'Italien's House district includes parts of North Andover, Andover, Methuen and Haverhill among other communities.
Staff writer Tim Wacker contributed to this report.
Anybody who knows the Catholic Church or has been to mass knows that the cantor only leads the congregation in song. They are preachers nor do they sermonize. I also doubt she would have used her position as choir leader to further her agenda.
Liberal Christians and other progressives of faith should heed this as a warning.