Could same-sex marriage ruling help fired Inverness church music director?
Could last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the country provide a boost to fired Holy Family Catholic Community music director Colin Collette's efforts to win his job back?
His attorney hopes that's the case, saying the ruling is part of a legal and social movement "in the right direction."
"Hopefully it will have a cascading effect through other countries and eventually the Vatican," Collette attorney Kerry Lavelle said.
The Inverness church fired Collette, its popular music director for 17 years, in July 2014 after he announced on Facebook he was engaged to marry his male partner.
In December, Collette filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Cook County Commission on Human Rights, alleging he was discriminated against by the church based on his sex, sexual orientation and marital status.
Citing those pending complaints, the Archdiocese of Chicago declined to comment Tuesday on Collette's situation.
On Sunday, Archbishop Blase Cupich issued a statement addressing the Supreme Court decision and the Catholic Church's position that gay people must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity.
"This respect must be real, not rhetorical, and ever reflective of the Church's commitment to accompanying all people," Cupich said. "For this reason, the Church must extend support to all families, no matter their circumstances, recognizing that we are all relatives, journeying through life under the careful watch of a loving God."
Lavelle said he thought the Cupich's comments were terrific.
"Colin would have a lot to add for the church and its LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community," Lavelle added.
Collette met with former Cardinal Francis George in September but has not yet had a chance to address his situation with Cupich, Lavelle said. Both the EEOC and Cook County Commission on Human Rights have been interviewing people associated with the complaints, including Collette, he added.
Holy Family hired a new music director in November.
Collette declined to comment for this report.