Kristen Cates

GreatFalls

Controversy is once again surrounding St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Lewistown after a priest made a decision that upset a number of parishioners.

This time it involves the funeral of a longtime church member, a former choir director invited to sing at the Mass, a retired priest slated to perform the services, the Rev. Samuel Spiering, and some old wounds from his decision in 2014 to excommunicate a gay couple from the church.

All of it unfolded moments before a funeral service began.

“As a family, we would like to let this go, but it isn’t right,” said Susan Valach, daughter-in-law of the woman who died, Pearl Valach. “It hurts all Christians because it’s not compassionate.”

It started when Pearl Valach’s family began planning her funeral services. The 92-year-old woman was a member of St. Leo’s parish her entire life. She was a member of the first graduating class of high school students at St. Leo’s Catholic High School.

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“Anyone that knew her knew she was a remarkable woman,” Susan Valach said.

From 1988-1993, then 1998-2012, the Rev. Dan O’Rourke served as the parish priest before retiring to Great Falls. Susan said her mother-in-law adored O’Rourke. The Valach family told O’Rourke they wanted him to perform the funeral services when the day came.

“Pearl called him her fourth son,” Susan Valach said.

Valach said as the family started putting together the funeral services with O’Rourke, Spiering was made aware of the plans. The family decided to ask a group of women to come sing at the service. At least four of those women – including former choir director Janie Shupe – left the church in 2014 when Spiering excommunicated longtime members and same-sex couple Paul Huff and Tom Wojtowick.

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Shupe said there were hurt feelings between her and Spiering when she publicly support the couple and resigned her position with the church. So, she said, in the days leading up to her return to St. Leo’s to sing for Pearl’s funeral with other former church members, she knew Spiering was trying to get a hold of her, but she ignored his calls.

Shupe arrived at the church around 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 8, to start rehearsing for the service, when Spiering, 29, approached her.

“He said, ‘I’m going to ask you not to sing today,’” Shupe remembers him saying. “I said, ‘This is not about you today, this is not about me today. This is about Pearl Valach and her family.’ He told me I could sing from my pew. It was mortifying. It was the most embarrassing thing. I could have stepped down, but at the same time I thought, ‘That’s ridiculous.’”

Shupe said she wasn’t inclined to back down, and O’Rourke became involved in the discussion and defended Shupe’s right to perform. At this point Spiering said O’Rourke would not be allowed to perform the service if Shupe stayed. O’Rourke left.

“I can’t believe anyone in the right mind, let alone anyone who professes to love God, could do this,” Shupe said.

Up until this point, Valach said the family was unaware of the controversy going on while they prepared for the services of their loved one. It wasn’t until Spiering approached Pearl’s widower, Frank Valach, and said he would be performing the service that they learned what was happening. Susan Valach said the family wanted Shupe to be there.

“We immediately said, ‘Absolutely, no,’” Susan Valach said. “I went up to the choir and said we would cancel. Our family was so upset and finally (Spiering) agreed to leave.”

Susan Valach said it’s worth noting that her mother-in-law didn’t agree with Spiering’s actions in 2014 but never wanted to leave the church.

“She was upset when the decision was made,” Valach said. “She continued to be faithful to the church, but with pain in her heart.”

The Rev. Jay Peterson, vicar general for the Great Falls-Billings Diocese, was also on hand at the service (having once served the parish as well) and offered to step in to perform the service, which appeased the family.

Contacted by the Tribune this week, Peterson said Spiering was exercising his pastoral authority and called the event an “unfortunate conflict.” But he went on to say Spiering’s recent actions have caught the attention of Bishop Michael Warfel.

“I think Father Spiering exercised his canonical rights,” Peterson said. “At the same time I would add it was not the right pastoral decision. The Bishop is very concerned about this.”

Spiering declined to comment for this story, but did refer to a statement he read in church Sunday, March 12, in which he expressed his reasoning for making the decision that he did, but apologized for the manner in which he did it.

“What I do regret, and what I do apologize for, is trying to make (Father) Dan correct his action that morning at the cost of him choosing to leave and not celebrate the Mass. I now realize that I should have let the funeral go on, and then after the fact issue a funeral policy that would prevent such problems, a policy I will issue in the near future,” reads part of the statement. “I apologize on my part to the Valach family and to you all, and I ask that you forgive me.”

Susan Valach said Spiering has yet to apologize directly to the family or to Shupe.

The Rev. Samuel Spiering’s comments before Mass at St. Leo’s Catholic Church

Before the actual sermon today, I need to make a brief statement. This past Tuesday, before Pearl Valach’s funeral, I had to make an important pastoral decision regarding a sensitive matter. I had tried to resolve the issue in the days leading up to the funeral, but my multiple phone calls to the persons involved were not returned. On Tuesday morning I told the persons involved of my decision. Father Dan O’Rourke, who was visiting to celebrate the funeral Mass, contradicted me and went against my pastoral decision.

This genuinely shocked me that he would do this. I then informed him that either he would have to correct what he did or he would not be allowed to celebrate the funeral Mass, since it is very wrong for a visiting priest to contradict the pastor, especially on important pastoral decisions. While I won’t go into the specifics of the issue, I assure you that it was not merely any trifle or matter of preference. He chose to not celebrate the Mass, and Father Jay Peterson celebrated the Mass instead. Now, I can honestly say that at the time I was sure that what I was doing was the right thing. However, having thought and prayed about it all week, I realize that I pushed it too far.

Now, I have to be clear. I do not regret the pastoral decision I had to make. I also do not regret confronting Father Dan. What I do regret, and what I do apologize for, is trying to make Father Dan correct his action that morning at the cost of him choosing to leave and not celebrate the Mass. I now realize that I should have let the funeral go on, and then after the fact issue a funeral policy that would prevent such problems, a policy I will issue in the near future.

I ask for your continued prayers that I will serve God and this parish with charity, wisdom and prudence. As always, anyone is welcome to speak with me about this. I apologize on my part to the Valach family and to you all, and I ask that you forgive me.

The Rev. Dan O’Rourke’s statement following the Valach funeral March 8

I was invited by a family to celebrate the funeral Mass for their wife, mother, grandmother and a dear friend to many on Tuesday, March 8. The planning of the funeral service was done by the family. The planning sheet listed six musicians/singers. All seemed to be in order. Thirty minutes before the funeral was to begin, I was informed by the parish priest (Spiering) that one of the musicians, a singer (Shupe) who he was unable to contact beforehand, was not acceptable to him and was not allowed to sing. After he informed her of his decision, she spoke with me and I said I would take care of the situation and that she would indeed sing.

Fifteen minutes before the funeral, the parish priest again voiced his objection to me allowing her to sing. He informed me that if she sang, he would prevent me from celebrating the funeral. He stated that I could assist him but not be the principal celebrant. I told him that was not acceptable to me. I said to him, “You have no idea the problems this will create.” I further stated, “Just let it go at this point.” He said he could not. I responded to him, “What if I go into the church and begin to vest?” The parish priest told me he would prevent me from doing so. He also informed me that he would prohibit me from ever returning to Saint Leo’s in the future.

At that point, I found the situation intolerable and exited the premises. Another priest in attendance stepped in and celebrated the funeral Mass after the family informed the parish priest he was not welcome to celebrate the funeral. The singer/musician sang her heart out.