Episcopal bishops oppose Catholic music group’s use of New York seminary

 

The Chapel of the Good Shepherd is home to the General Theological Seminary in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. / Credit: Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Apr 17, 2024 / 13:30 pm (CNA).

Episcopal bishops in New York state are vocally opposing a Catholic music group’s usage of a seminary facility in New York City, citing concerns over the purported position of the group’s founders on LGBT issues.

Episcopal News Service (ENS), the official news wire of the Episcopal Church, reported this month that the seven bishops who serve the Episcopal dioceses of New York and Long Island “are publicly opposing the potential long-term lease of General Theological Seminary’s property and facilities” to the School of Sacred Music (SSM).

SSM is “grounded in the Roman Catholic tradition,” the institute says on its website. It offers “support, development, and inspiration to all who value sacred music,” including through a professional choir.

The school “engage[s] and inspire[s] students and professional church musicians, members of the clergy, congregations, faith communities, and all interested members of the public,” it says.

Since late 2023 the Catholic institution has been using the Episcopal seminary’s Chapel of the Good Shepherd in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. The music school meets twice weekly there for vespers.

ENS reported this month that the seminary is considering a “long-term lease” with the Catholic organization, one that would see the School of Sacred Music undertaking renovations of the Episcopal campus and paying the seminary an annual rent.

In their letter, the Episcopal bishops said they were “concerned by the lack of full acceptance of the LGBTQ stance” of the founders of SSM, as well as “the lack of transparency in its funding.”

“We recognize the difficult financial situation … with the General Seminary campus,” the bishops wrote. “We are also making difficult decisions about the future use of sacred spaces. It’s important to make decisions that align with our mission and values. Human dignity is not negotiable.”

It was not immediately clear what the bishops in their letter meant by the “lack of full acceptance of the LGBTQ stance” of the school’s founders. Spokespersons for the New York and Long Island Episcopal dioceses did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Though SSM lists relatively little information about its structure or organization on its website, the Episcopal news wire reported that the group is a subsidiary of the Ithuriel Fund, a “major donor” of which is Colin Moran, the president of the Institute on Religion and Public Life. That institute is the publisher of the Catholic magazine First Things.

ENS reported that “some of the articles published by First Things” under “Moran’s leadership” advocate “particularly conservative views toward human sexuality,” such as a recent article arguing that Christians should not attend gay wedding ceremonies.

Moran could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

In a statement last month, meanwhile, the seminary’s president, Ian Markham, suggested the proposed lease with the Catholic group was necessary for the Episcopal institution to remain solvent.

The seminary “faces significant revenue and cash flow challenges,” he wrote. “In fiscal year 2023, GTS’ operating expenses were $7 million, against an annual income of $4.3 million. The seminary has no funding source for any emergency capital expenditure, or deferred maintenance, which is estimated to be tens of millions of dollars.”

The seminary’s board “gave its unanimous backing to enter into negotiations with SSM at its November meeting and for these negotiations to continue at its recent February meeting,” he wrote.

“Any agreement it reaches with the SSM will be consistent with the seminary’s mission and respect GTS’ core commitment to inclusivity,” Markham said in the statement.

On Wednesday, meanwhile, seminary spokeswoman Nicky Burridge told CNA that “nothing has changed” regarding the plan for the Catholic group to use the property in both the short term and the future.

“[N]egotiations continue with SSM, meanwhile, SSM continues to have a short-term rental agreement to use parts of the Close, such as the Chapel of the Good Shepherd,” she said.


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


About Catholic News Agency 12498 Articles
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

10 Comments

  1. The Episcopal Church tried to be everything to everybody. It became nothing to nobody. It won’t exist in 10 years.

    • Sadly, Alan it’s looking that way for mainline US Episcopalians and the CE.
      For more orthodox Anglicans, it’s a different picture. And even traditional Episcopalians are happy to share their buildings with Catholics for Evening Vespers. We had that experience years ago.

  2. Saying Catholics should not attend gay “weddings” is not a “particularly conservative” view. It’s just the orthodox Catholic view. You can’t attend an invalid wedding, whether its homosexual or heterosexual.

  3. Not to worry, soon the building will be razed in order that a high rise condo for the elite class can be built. And besides, why would anyone in their right mind find himself doing much of anything in crime-ridden and ungovernable NYC?

  4. These laypeople playing at being “bishops” when their orders are null and void are a joke but with a vicious nature. Just look at Michael Cohen; once a Catholic apologist whose books and thoughts encouraged and nourished. Now so rabid anti Catholic with support for abortion IVF euthanasia!! They’re a sick evil organisation that’s thankfully on the way to oblivion! Not a moment too soon 👍

  5. We read: “It was not immediately clear what the bishops in their letter meant by the ‘lack of full acceptance of the LGBTQ stance’.” Indeed, just exactly what is the LGBTQ “stance”.

    The Episcopal ecclesial communion (not Church) should explain itself to the general public and to its separated factions across the globe.

  6. Not surprised since their orders have no validity. The episcopal community has always supported the whacky and ultimately weird concerning correct morality and norms. Michael Cohen, once the most solid defender of all Catholic morals now is totally for abortion marriage redefinent etc! So sad, reality!

  7. If the Episcopal bishops align with the acceptance of the lust of the LGBTQ community and their immoral mission and values than these Episcopal bishops are in direct violation of God’s natural law for men and women. Regardless of the Episcopal bishops flawed look at human sexuality the Catholic church will always identify the immoral sexuality and lust as a grave sin.
    As for the School of Sacred Music, I say, look elsewhere.

  8. “It was not immediately clear what the Bishops in their letter meant by the “lack of full acceptance of the LGBTQ stance of the school’s founders.”

    And what, precisely, does THAT mean? It means whatever they want it to mean – whenever and wherever – Gobbledygook to the nth degree.

    Plus ca change, plus la meme.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.


*