Diocese Withdraws Invitation to Singer After It’s Revealed She’s in a Gay Marriage

Last updated on: March 10, 2016 at 11:42 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

Diocese Withdraws Invitation to Singer After It’s Revealed She’s in a Gay Marriage 2016-03-10T11:42:57-05:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

From Charlotte:

A local singer was invited and then uninvited to perform at a gala because of her sexuality.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is hosting Gala For Hope this Saturday in Asheville.

This year’s event would’ve been the third time Kat Williams performed at that gala, which raises money to fight poverty and support local families.

However, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte says it learned of her same-sex relationship nearly two weeks ago and no longer wants her services at the Gala For Hope.

“Marriage can only be between one man and one woman,” David Hains, who is the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte’s director of communications, said. “Because Ms. Williams chooses to be in a relationship that’s different from that, it really makes it inappropriate for her to perform for us.”

Read on.

But there seems to be more to the story. The local diocesan paper has this account:

A musician scheduled to perform at an upcoming Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte fundraiser in Asheville will not be appearing after organizers learned of her same-sex “marriage.”

Kat Williams, an Emmy Award-nominated jazz and blues singer and Asheville resident, was booked by Catholic Charities to perform at its March 12 “Gala for Hope.” The annual event at the Crowne Plaza Resort raised approximately $90,000 last year for Catholic Charities’ ministry to the poor in western North Carolina, including the Asheville Catholic Charities office.

But when Diocese of Charlotte officials learned that Williams is in a same-sex union, which is in direct opposition to Catholic teaching, her performance contract was withdrawn March 1 by Catholic Charities’ executive director, Dr. Gerard Carter.

In response, Williams took to social media March 5 to protest being “fired…for being gay.”

Carter directed media inquiries to diocesan Director of Communication David Hains, who said, “Ms. Williams’ status as a performer at a Catholic event is incompatible with her same-sex union. We simply cannot have a featured performer at an event of ours who is in open opposition to Church teaching.”

Catholic Charities’ mission statement and core values state, in part: “We are faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church as expressed in Sacred Scripture and Catholic tradition.”

The “Gala for Hope” fundraiser is underwritten by a number of corporate and individual sponsors, as well as St. Lawrence Basilica and St. Eugene Church in Asheville, and draws hundreds of attendees each year. It provides funds for Catholic Charities’ Asheville food and clothing pantries, financial help to needy families and the elderly, counseling services, and legal immigration assistance.

Hains said the decision to rescind Williams’ performance contract came after diocesan officials were made aware of a 2013 article in the Asheville publication “Verve Magazine,” in which Williams noted she had a “wife of seven years.”

In withdrawing the offer to perform at the gala, the Charlotte diocese apologized for the confusion and paid Williams her agreed-upon fee of $3,500, Hains said.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

March 10, 2016

"It's the Year of Mercy, not the Year of Reprimands"

Next Post

March 10, 2016 Pope Imposes Financial Oversight for Naming of Saints

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the name for a Christian adult education class, especially for converts?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ecumenism Martyrdom Catechism Exegesis

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »