Connor Hakes, a 23-year-old from Indiana, was not permitted to sing at his grandmother's funeral after the pastor presiding over the service saw a photo of Hakes attending a gay Pride rally.
Pastor Bob J. Lengerich of St. Mary Of The Assumption Catholic Church sent Hakes a letter over one page in length explaining that he would not be permitted to sing, as Hakes had originally planned, at his grandmother's service.
To honor his late grandmother, Carolyn, Hakes had planned to sing Franz schubert's "Ave Maria". He ultimately sang the first stanza of the piece at his grandmother's gravesite, after the funeral.
"I can no longer sing at my Grandma's funeral, because I attended a gay pride rally and a picture was posted publicly (years ago)," Hakes, who is gay, said in his Facebook post. The post included two photographs of Pastor Lengerich's letter.
"Anytime someone sins and then acts in the name of God, it causes scandal. This is the main reason why you cannot (at this time) offer your gifts in service at St. Mary's," the letter states.
"The Catholic Church upholds the dignity of those with same-sex attraction. At the same time, it does not permit same-sex relationships or openly advocating for them because it causes scandal."
According to Hakes, this is the Pride photo that prompted the letter, which someone at the parish brought to the pastor's attention:
Hakes told BuzzFeed News he was "completely shocked and taken aback" by the letter, as his family has been involved in the church community for generations. Hakes himself has participated in the church since he was a child.
A statement from the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend provided to BuzzFeed News stated that the diocese is now working on fostering "healing and reconciliation" between Lengerich and the Hakes family.
“Having become aware of the painful situation at Saint Mary’s Parish in Decatur, the diocese is working on fostering healing and reconciliation between the pastor and the Hakes family. We encourage all to move forward with genuine Christian love and mercy and with respect and prayer for one another.”
“This Priest had judged me and really formed an opinion about me without ever communicating with me,” Hakes told News Channel 15.
Several of Hakes' friends urged him to stand and sing at his grandmother's funeral, which was held on the morning of November 26, despite the pastor's letter. Hakes decided against it. "The funeral was celebrating my grandma's life, and I did not want to make a spectacle of the service," he said.
