PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Rev. Francesco Francese kept his Sunday homily at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Broadway short as he encouraged worshipers to “be gentle” with people who stray from the path of God.

“It’s our Christian duty to, if we can, to make up for mistakes, and try to help those who are also victims in one way or another,” said Father Francese. “God wants us to give others their due, to never be unjust to them.”

As he closed his Bible the sanctuary fell silent. The rousing blend of voices, piano harmonies, and bongo drums associated with director of music ministry Michael Templeton’s choir, was noticeably absent.

On Monday, Templeton said Father Francese, who became pastor of the parish in July, sent him a text message asking to meet with him. When Templeton arrived at the church he said he was greeted by Father Francese, and a representative from the Diocese of Providence. Templeton, who has been dating the same man for about five years, got married in 2015.

“They said I had entered into a marriage that wasn’t consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church and I needed to go,” Templeton said.

Also on Sunday, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul for a special blessing of “Milestone Marriages.” Here he spoke about the importance of commitment to one's faith, and one's partner before about 1,300 people.

Asked if any gay couples were invited to the blessing, Tobin joked, “Well this is for people celebrating 25 years or more so we don’t have anybody like that. We’ll worry about that in 20 years. Not today.”

When asked about Templeton specifically, he said, “I can’t talk about that today” and walked away.

Many St. Mary's parishioners, who arrived at the 10 a.m. Mass wearing rainbow buttons and shirts promoting marriage equality, hoped to hear an explanation from Father Francese. They held hands, and at times, wept — many, gay themselves, said they no longer felt comfortable in the one Catholic parish that has sheltered them.

“This priest had the opportunity to explain himself, or at the very least, to be direct with us,” said Leo Narducci. “But instead he ignored us and gave the same gibberish we hear from him every Sunday.”

As Father Francese recited the Nicene Creed, one man’s voice rose.

“All are welcome,” he sang, his shaky voice quickly becoming a chorus of others. “All are welcome here. All are welcome.”

Some 30 other parishioners joined his song — their way of speaking out against the firing, they said.

Father Francese completed the prayer, ignoring the song. Later as worshipers walked up the aisle to receive Communion, many, like Narducci, shuddered and cried, accepting the host from the man who fired one of their own.

After the Mass ended, a reporter followed Father Francese and asked to speak with him.

“No,” Father Francese said. “Are you from the press? You have to talk to the Diocese. Nope. I can’t say anything. That’s all.”

He turned and walked away, leaving behind a group of distraught parishioners trying to discuss their next move.

Glen Beattie, who came to St. Mary’s in 2008, waved goodbye to the altar Sunday as he headed out the door. “Bye church,” he said, sadly. If Templeton isn’t welcome, Beattie, also a gay man, doesn’t feel safe, either.

Templeton, 38, echoed this idea in an interview last week. He grew up Catholic, and has been in music ministry since he was a teenager. He’s dedicated his life to translating Scripture into song, he said.

“This is about a real statement on who is welcome and who is not,” Templeton said. “About who should feel safe and who shouldn’t.”

Templeton’s firing comes after Pope Francis released Amoris Laetitia, or “The Joy of Love,” which outlined a different path for the Church. Instead of casting out people that haven’t strictly aligned themselves with the Church’s belief system, Catholics should invite them in.

Bishop Tobin has taken a different approach. On Friday, he issued a statement saying he had “no choice” but to dismiss Templeton.

“Any person who holds a ministerial position in the Church, as an employee or a volunteer, is expected to live in a way that is fully consistent with the teachings and faith of the Church,” Bishop Tobin wrote. “If an individual deliberately and knowingly enters into a relationship or engages in activity that contradicts the core teachings of the Church, that individual leaves the Church no choice but to respond.”

Many St. Mary’s parishioners don't agree. One woman, who has been attending church there for 40 years but did not want to give her name, said she’s thinking of leaving the religion altogether.

“This isn’t right,” she said with tears in her eyes. “This isn’t what being a Christian is.”

—jtempera@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @jacktemp