Welcome to Ash Wednesday. NCR columnist Franciscan Fr. Daniel Horan says that instead of the usual self-denial during Lent in an ongoing global pandemic, we should focus on spiritual transformation and renewal. A fired church organist in Chicago is suing the archdiocese after being ridiculed for being overweight and gay by his employer, a parish priest.

Let's go back to basics for Lent during this pandemic year

For many people, Lent is associated with certain kinds of sacrifice: giving up something one enjoys for the season, abstaining from meat on Fridays and fasting on prescribed dates, writes Franciscan Fr. Daniel Horan in his latest column.

But what do these forms of self-denial mean during a global pandemic in which nearly everybody has been experiencing involuntary self-denial for months?

Some people might find the idea of imposing further burdens on themselves cruel, Horan writes, adding he is deeply sympathetic to that view.

"However, I think this particular Lent is a time in which spiritual transformation, ongoing conversion, and personal and communal renewal is needed more than ever," Horan says. "It just might mean that we don't go to our classical Lenten storage closet on Ash Wednesday to dust off our usual penitential practices."

You can read more of Horan's column here.

Chicago Archdiocese takes 'religious liberty' too far in Demkovich case

In a commentary for NCR, Fordham University professor Patrick Hornbeck writes about the case of Sandor Demkovich, a church organist fired from his position. Demkovich has alleged he was fired because of his health and sexual orientation and is suing the Chicago Archdiocese.

"Sadly, stories about Catholic institutions firing LGBTQ+ employees have become all too familiar," writes Hornbeck. "Across the U.S., parishes and schools have dismissed numerous staff for marrying same-sex partners or even just showing support for LGBTQ+ friends and family members. As commentators have pointed out, Catholic employers have not taken comparable action against employees contravening other church teachings."

The archdiocese says that Demkovich's supervisor, when ridiculing him for being gay and overweight, was "simply exercising his constitutional right to discipline an employee," Hornbeck writes. "What the pastor said and did may have been objectionable, but a court simply cannot look into the matter."

You can read more of the commentary here.

More background:

• In a July 8, 2020 ruling, the Supreme Court said the California Catholic schools sued for job discrimination for firing teachers had acted within their rights in the recent firings.
   
• Advocates say that a worrying wave of religious exemptions to anti-discrimination laws have left many LGBT employees vulnerable.

More headlines

• NCR political columnist Michael Sean Winters says that the U.S. bishops stepped back from the brink when they decided to shut down the working group on the Biden administration.
   
• ICYMI: Most Black Americans attend predominantly Black congregations, but a majority think such congregations should welcome people of other races, a study from Pew Research Center shows.
   
• In the latest Notes from the Field post at Global Sisters Report, Celina Kim Chapman writes about celebrating #justLOVEday to spread kindness and awareness of Good Shephard Services, where she volunteers.
   
• ICYMI: References to faith were a constant at last week's impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump, with Democrats appearing especially comfortable invoking religion when discussing the attack on the U.S. Capitol by insurrectionists.

Final thoughts

Today's column from Franciscan Fr. Daniel Horan is the first in our Soul Seeing for Lent series, which will include commentaries from Manhattan College professor Natalia Imperatori-Lee, Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister and Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohr.

Soul Seeing editor Michael Leach will also be hosting special biweekly livestream events. Join Leach and Horan today at 1:30 p.m. Central/2:30 p.m. Eastern on Facebook or YouTube.

Until Thursday,

Stephanie Yeagle
NCR Managing Editor
[email protected]
Twitter: @ncrSLY

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