A longtime music director at the St. Victoria Catholic Church stepped down last week after Archbishop John Nienstedt requested his resignation.

Jamie Moore married his male partner over the weekend of Sept. 20, prompting Nienstedt to call for his resignation. Robert Kennedy, director of St. Thomas’ Catholic studies department, said Nienstedt likely called for Moore’s resignation because his marriage was not consistent with church teachings.

“What (Moore) has done is, in my judgement, raised his situation to a much more public level,” Kennedy said. “In light of the church’s posture in defense of marriage, this is also a repudiation of the church’s position about the nature of marriage.”

Nienstedt said in a statement that the teachings of the Catholic Church must be upheld. He said public conduct contrary to the teachings and law of the church is a reason for immediate dismissal, the Associated Press reported.

The Rev. Bob White of St. Victoria Catholic Church addressed his congregation on Sept. 27 and 28, saying he had accepted Moore’s resignation and that he will be missed. The address was later published on St. Victoria’s website.

“If you feel like this news is a kick in the stomach, I understand,” White said. “Jamie’s leaving is not what anyone would have wanted. It’s a deep loss. We feel it in our gut.”

Kennedy said that while Nienstedt is usually not involved in personnel decisions for various churches, he had to step in because White would not take action against Moore.

“It’s the responsibility of the pastor of the parish to address the situation,” Kennedy said. “My impression is that the pastor of the parish refused to address it, and that puts the archbishop in an awkward position.”

Kennedy also said that Moore was not dismissed because of his sexuality, but because of his taking the step into marriage.

Junior Ben Tillinghast said he believes Nienstedt made the right decision by asking Moore to resign.

“I think it was what he had to do,” Tillinghast said. “The Catholic Church teaches that gay marriage is not a real union of souls in the same way that a heterosexual union is, and so to claim to marry another man is against Catholic Church teaching.”

Sophomore Megan Sharp disagreed.

“Your job shouldn’t be affected by your personal life,” Sharp said. “You should be able to do whatever you want in your personal life and not have your profession affected by it.”

Grace Pastoor can be reached at past6138@stthomas.edu.