Fired Minnesota gay music director Jamie Moore hires attorney... NOT!

Garrett Manzi and Jamie Moore

UPDATE 9/28/14:*

Jamie Moore, who was music director at St. Victoria for more than 17 years before he quit at the request of church leaders, decided Friday not to pursue legal action against Archbishop John Nienstedt, according to his former lawyer.

“I think he was in a very good position to challenge the termination because of the reason that was given and that was marital status,” Clayton Halunen said Sunday, explaining that Minnesota churches are allowed to discriminate based on sexual orientation but not on marital status.

“I’m very disappointed in the decision,” Halunen added. “I think if had we had a favorable result ..... it would have helped many others in the LGBT community to preserve their employment if they choose to get married.”

Moore has not spoken publicly about his dismissal and could not be reached Sunday. - KAREN ZAMORA , Star Tribune Updated: September 28, 2014 

H/T Rick Notch

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Original Post


I don't get it.

He seemed so gracious upon receiving the Archbishop's request that he resign his position:

"I'm not surprised. I'm sad and I was hopeful that I could continue in my career at St. Victoria but it wasn't a surprise. I've known since I started at St. Victoria in February of 1997 that this could be a possibility at some point," Moore said Wednesday night in an interview.

Jamie has to leave because he married his long-time partner, Garrett, last weekend.

When Archbishop Nienstedt got wind of it he called for Jamie's resignation.

"It's against Catholic Church teaching to be a partnered gay man, it is also very much against Catholic Church teaching to marry that man," Jamie said knowing this was a likely outcome. - Source

Call in the lawyers.

A music director who was asked by a Catholic church in Victoria, Minn., to resign after marrying his longtime partner has now hired the attorney who represented former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe on discrimination issues. 

Minneapolis attorney Clayton Halunen* said Friday that he was retained by Jamie Moore after St. Victoria Catholic Church asked Moore to resign following his wedding last weekend to his longtime partner. 

On Friday, Moore was still listed on the St. Victoria directory, but Halunen said Moore has resigned as requested. He declined to comment any further and said Moore would not be available for comment. 

However, he told Fox 9 News on Thursday that he’s preparing to sue Archbishop John Nienstedt for “aiding and abetting discrimination,” adding that Moore was fired not because he was gay but because he married. Halunen said Minnesota churches are allowed to discriminate based on sexual orientation but not on marital status. - Source

That was quick.

Jamie Moore knew he could be terminated or asked to resign if he married his partner - or as he stated: "I've known since I started at St. Victoria in February of 1997 that this could be a possibility at some point."

I was hoping he would simply walk away.  

Ka-ching!

*Moore's attorney, Clayton 'Halunen recently represented Chris Kluwe, who threatened to sue the Vikings for more than $10 million because the team wouldn’t release its full investigation into his claims that the team has a culture of discrimination. Last month, the two sides reached an out-of-court settlement. The team agreed to donate $100,000 to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups; Kluwe didn’t receive any money in the settlement.'

 To learn more on Wrongful Termination Law, go here.


*Prayers have been answered - Jamie Manzi-Moore is not suing.

h/t Ray