Kristen Nelson has announced she has stepped down as West Catholic's softball coach.

Nelson explained on Facebook that school and Grand Rapids Diocese officials informed her that her upcoming same sex marriage was contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Nelson could not be reached for comment, but she wrote on Facebook that her views and the views of the Catholic Church on marriage ultimately resulted in her resignation.

“It is with a heavy heart that I am writing you this letter,” Nelson wrote on Facebook. “In recent weeks, a parent concern regarding my personal life and relationship has started an unpleasant conversation within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. Throughout the course of those conversations, it was made known to me that my future plans to marry my significant other, Maria, were ‘concerning’ to them. It has been made clear to me through conversations I have had with the leadership at West Catholic, that both they and the Diocese ‘teach a single view of marriage’ and that if I were to continue with my and Maria’s decisions to get married, I would not be able to continue coaching at West Catholic High School.”

MLive reached out West Catholic and received a statement from Annalise Laumeyer, director of communications for the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

“As a mission of the Catholic Church, Catholic schools are places where students come to learn and know the Church’s teachings, one of which is the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman,” Laumeyer wrote. “For this reason, Catholic school administrators, teachers, or staff members that persist in public acts that are contrary to Catholic teachings disqualify themselves from the opportunity to continue in their leadership role within a Catholic school.

“Bishop Walkowiak is grateful to the leadership team of West Catholic High School for working with staff to ensure that the Catholic faith is presented in a way fully in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church.”

Nelson is a West Catholic graduate who played softball at St. Mary’s College in Indiana. She has coached softball at her alma mater for the past five years. She was named head coach last season and guided the Falcons to a 16-15 record.

“Since graduating from West Catholic High School in 2008, I always wanted and intended to give back to the community I came from, a community my family and I have always loved and supported,” Nelson continued in her post. “Although I feel, and believe you would agree, that my sexual orientation has never conflicted or hindered my ability to perform my coaching duties, unfortunately, leadership does not agree with such, and I no longer feel welcome to continue coaching at West Catholic High School.

“I am hurt and mostly disappointed that I will no longer be able to continue, but I hope you can understand that I simply cannot continue to work in an environment that refuses to support me. I know we have made some big plans for the program this year and I am very sorry that I will not be able to see through them. Please know that I wish the best for our players and I have no doubt they will have bright futures, both in softball and life.”