Diocese of Buffalo cancels gay men’s choir concert

The Diocese of New York canceled the concert, saying the group’s “values ​​are incompatible with Catholic teaching.”

The Diocese of Buffalo has canceled the Summer Choir Festival event two weeks prior, citing a lineup – which included the Buffalo Gay Men’s Choir (BGMC) – which allegedly misaligned values ​​between the group and the Church.

Since the cancellation announcement, BMGC members have received an outpouring of support. Hosted by the Friends of Greater Buffalo Musicthe Summer Choir Festival will no longer take place at Saint Joseph Cathedraland will now take place at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on June 9, with the BGMC.

“In planning to serve as the venue for the Summer Choir Festival originally scheduled for Sunday, June 9, the diocese did not receive full details of the expected choirs prior to confirmation of the event,” reads a press release from a diocesan spokesperson. the weather, Spectrum News reports.

“Once all participants were confirmed, the diocese chose not to host the concert because the choir identified to perform is a group whose values ​​are incompatible with Catholic teaching,” the spokesperson added. “While we are disappointed to have had to cancel the concert, we understand that an alternative venue has been identified for the concert.”

Artistic Director of BMGC Dr. Rob Strauss told Spectrum News that “it was a bit of a head-in-your-hands moment thinking: Haven’t we gone further than this in 2024?” »

BMGC has been producing vocal music in the rich tradition of male choral singing since its launch in 2001. “We seek through song not only to entertain, but also to enlighten,” they write. on their website. “We sing to create harmony while celebrating pride in the community and ourselves. »

“You don’t have to be straight. You don’t have to identify as male to sing with us,” said Dr. Strauss, who explains that the BMGC exists for times like this. “We have a very large sample of people and it’s interesting, fascinating, wonderful to see them interacting, learning from each other. I think it’s beautiful too.

Following the diocese’s decision to cancel the festival, the music director of St. Joseph Cathedral and the artistic director of Greater Buffalo Friends of Music Tim Socha presented his resignation to the Cathedral after 17 years.

“The Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus is angered and deeply disappointed to learn that the choral festival scheduled for Sunday, June 9 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral was to be canceled by the Catholic Diocese, in part due to the inclusion of the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus , » the BMGC posted on Facebook.

“This news, announced less than three weeks before an event that many groups have been preparing for almost a year, came a few days after our concert, WALK TOGETHER, which promoted and celebrated unity, love, acceptance , community and resistance to those who consider us unworthy of dignity and life based on who we love, and a few months after our trip to Minneapolis to participate in the GALA Choruses Festival, to perform a set sharing our joy of being part of the Buffalo community,” the group added.

“We are so grateful to our friends at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for stepping up to welcome all of us to their facilities so the event could still take place. We thank the Greater Buffalo Friends of Music for hosting the event, as well as the other participating choral groups, with whom we look forward to bonding, sharing stories, and connecting through the power of music .

US Congressman Tim Kennedy requested the annulment of the decision in a recent letter to Bishop Michael Fisher dated May 29. A spokesperson for the diocese told 2WGRZ that the bishop received the letter and “is not reconsidering the organization of the festival”.

“Growing up Catholic, the most important lesson taught to me and my siblings was the importance of helping people, of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you” , Kennedy said. “Our work is to help those in need, to advocate for those forgotten by society, and to build a better world based on love and understanding. This can be summarized by Mark 12:31: You must love your neighbor as yourself. I hope that the diocese will also take this view and reconsider this decision.

“We wholeheartedly welcome the gay men’s choir,” said the pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Jeff Wilson said in ABC7 report. “People may see this or think that we are trying to be politically correct or adhere to a particular political agenda. But love is not partisan. We believe it is an honor and a privilege to host people.