Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (Durham, North Carolina): Difference between revisions

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→‎Discrimination against LGBT people: WP:UNDUE material for a history of the organization and in the sources are neither reliable or independent, particularly as the section needs to conform to WP:BLPSOURCES. Many thanks GS.
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Undid revision 1172680319 by Serial Number 54129 (talk) I'm all for removing this if it truly is undue weight, but shouldn't that be a discussion between editors? I don't see how it's undue weight when the majority of the press for this church is due to those two instances.. and how are the provided sources from news organizations not reliable?
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=== Notable alumni ===
=== Notable alumni ===
* [[Vernetta Alston]], American politician and member of the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]]
* [[Vernetta Alston]], American politician and member of the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]]

== Discrimination against LGBT people ==
Despite being listed as an [[LGBT]]-friendly parish on the [[Durham County, North Carolina|Durham County]] website and by [[New Ways Ministry]], and hosting an LGBTQ ministry group, the parish has been the subject of controversy regarding discrimination against LGBT people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://durham.nc.networkofcare.org/mh/services/agency.aspx?pid=_371_2_0|title=LGBTQ Ministry- Immaculata Conception - Durham - , North Carolina|website=LGBTQ Ministry- Immaculata Conception - Durham - , North Carolina}}</ref><ref name= newwaysministry1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newwaysministry.org/resources/parishes/|title=LGBTQ-Friendly Parishes & Faith Communities|website=New Ways Ministry}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icdurham.org/lgbtq-ministry.html|title=LGBTQ Ministry|website=Immaculate Conception Catholic Church}}</ref>

In February 2019, Immaculata Catholic School alumna and Durham City Councilwoman [[Vernetta Alston]] and Durham Mayor Protempore [[Jillian Johnson]] were disinvited from speaking at Immaculata for a [[Black History Month]] celebration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/a1a7ed98-2bb5-11e9-a97d-120e7ad5cf50/|title=Durham City Council Member Dis-Invited from Black History Month Program Amid Protests|first=Sarah|last=Willets|date=February 8, 2019|website=INDY Week}}</ref><ref name= wral>{{cite web|url=https://www.wral.com/spurned-by-catholic-school-gay-durham-councilwoman-sees-teaching-moment/18177029/|title=Spurned by Catholic school, gay Durham councilwoman sees teaching moment|date=7 February 2019|access-date=13 September 2022|publisher=[[WRAL-TV]]|first1=Ken|last1=Smith|first2=Sarah|last2=Krueger|location=[[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]], [[North Carolina|NC]]}}</ref> Alston and Johnson were originally invited by the school's African-American Heritage Committee as part of the school's "Influential African American Women" theme.<ref name= news>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/north-carolina-immaculata-catholic-school-black-history-month-vernetta-alston-1324101|title=North Carolina Catholic school cancels black history event after protest threats over gay speaker, a former student|first=Jason Murdock On 2/8/19 at 11:39 AM|last=EST|date=February 8, 2019|website=Newsweek}}</ref> The invitation was rescinded after there were threats to protest the event due to Alston and Johnson being openly gay public officials.<ref name= wral/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/catholic-school-black-history-month-event-canceled-lesbian|title=A Catholic School Canceled Classes Over Protests Of A Black Lesbian Speaker's Event|website=BuzzFeed News}}</ref> Fr. Christopher VanHaight, the pastor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Head of Immaculata Catholic School, said he made the decision to rescind the invitation and close the school for a day after receiving messages from some school parents voicing concern about having a "pro-[[Same-sex marriage|gay marriage]]" politician speak at the school, claiming that Alston speaking would "question the school's commitment to upholding Catholic moral teaching."<ref name= news/> He also stated that the school "needed a break from politicians."<ref name= news/> Fr. VanHaight's decision was supported by Bishop [[Luis R. Zarama]] and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh|Diocese of Raleigh]].<ref name= news/><ref name= wral/>

In May 2022, a transgender woman, Wilhelmina Indermaur, was hired by a family to serve as an in-school aide for their disabled child.<ref name= abc11>{{Cite web|url=https://abc11.com/transgender-woman-denied-teacher-job-catholic-school-immaculata-durham/12004221/|title='It was really, really hurtful': Transgender woman says she was denied job at Durham Catholic school|date=June 29, 2022|website=ABC11 Raleigh-Durham}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newwaysministry.org/2022/07/09/transgender-teaching-aide-for-disabled-student-denied-job-by-catholic-school/|title=Transgender Teaching Aide for Disabled Student Denied Job by Catholic School|first=Grace|last=Doerfler|date=July 9, 2022|website=New Ways Ministry}}</ref> Indermaur, who already was employed as a nanny for another family whose children attend the school, was active in the school community and often attended mass at the church.<ref name= advocate>{{Cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/religion/2022/8/03/trans-parishioner-denied-job-catholic-school|title=Trans Parishioner Denied Job by Catholic School|date=August 3, 2022|website=www.advocate.com}}</ref> In June 2022, Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, the pastor at Immaculate Conception, called a meeting between school administration, clerical staff, and the family to announce that Indermaur would not be allowed to work on Immaculata's campus because she is transgender.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/news/educator-says-she-lost-job-113000725.html|title=Educator says she lost job at Durham Catholic school because she's transgender|first=A. O. L.|last=Staff|website=www.aol.com}}</ref><ref name= indy>{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/d8589c7a-f6ff-11ec-8f54-12274efc5439/|title=Durham's Immaculata Catholic School Denies Job to Transgender Parishioner|first=Lena|last=Geller|date=June 29, 2022|website=INDY Week}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/08/02/transgender-woman-says-she-s-not-allowed-to-work-at-durham-catholic-school|title=Transgender woman says she's not allowed to work at Durham Catholic school|publisher=[[Spectrum News 1 North Carolina]]|date=2 August 2022|access-date=13 September 2022|last=Rose|first=Amanda}}</ref> The day before Indermaur was informed of the school's decision, the church posted [[Pride Month]] posts on their social media accounts with the caption, "Immaculate Conception welcomes members of the LGBTQ community."<ref name= indy/><ref name= advocate/> The church and school's decision ultimately left Indermaur without a job.<ref name= abc11/>


== Notable clergy ==
== Notable clergy ==

Revision as of 19:11, 28 August 2023

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Mary garden and façade of Immaculate Conception Church.
Religion
AffiliationCatholic Church
DistrictDiocese of Raleigh
LeadershipBishop Luis R. Zarama
Year consecrated1906
StatusActive
Location
LocationDurham, North Carolina, United States
Architecture
Completed1956
Website
icdurham.org

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church & Immaculata Catholic School are a Catholic parish church and parochial school run by the Order of Friars Minor in downtown Durham, North Carolina. The church and school are located in the Burch Avenue Historic District. Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic congregation in Durham, and the affiliated school was the city's first Catholic school. In 2019 and 2022, the church and school were accused of discriminating against LGBT people.

Church

The Catholic community in Durham formed in 1867, when a group of Catholics from Lockhaven, Pennsylvania settled on land in the area.[1]

Prior to the construction of the first church building, Catholics in Durham celebrated mass with visiting priests from Raleigh and Newton Grove at the William Thomas O'Brien House and at the home of James Lawrence.[2][1][3] The O'Brien family were an affluent Catholic family connected to the W. Duke Sons & Company.[4] Later, a space was rented in J.R. Gooch's store on Corcoran Street which led to protests because laws prevented liquor from being sold in close proximity to a church.[3] In 1896, Abbot Leo Haid of Belmont Abbey, the Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina, asked Benjamin Newton Duke for financial assistance to build a church, but Duke declined.[3] Later that year, Fr. Prendergast of Raleigh was celebrating mass at the Durham YMCA.[3]

The first church, a white wooden church named St. Mary's, was built in 1906 on West Chapel Hill Street, located on land once owned by William T. O'Brien.[5][3] A parochial school was established in 1909.[2] The church was consecrated on January 14, 1906 with 106 members.[1]

School

The first school, called St. Mary's School, was built adjacent to the sanctuary on Chapel Hill Street. The school was founded in 1909 by Fr. Francis O'Brien and the Sisters of St. Dominic from Newburgh, New York.[6][7] St. Mary's enrollment started with nine students and ended with twnety-three in its first year. The school building was town down and a new building was constructed in the 1951.[6] The school was later renamed St. William's School and, finally, Immaculata School.[3]

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Education designated Immaculata Catholic School as a national blue ribbon school for academic achievements.[7] In 2019, the school received a national green ribbon school award from the department of education for efforts to reduce environmental impact.[7] The school was the first in North Carolina to receive AdvancED STEM certification.[7]

Notable alumni

Discrimination against LGBT people

Despite being listed as an LGBT-friendly parish on the Durham County website and by New Ways Ministry, and hosting an LGBTQ ministry group, the parish has been the subject of controversy regarding discrimination against LGBT people.[8][9][10]

In February 2019, Immaculata Catholic School alumna and Durham City Councilwoman Vernetta Alston and Durham Mayor Protempore Jillian Johnson were disinvited from speaking at Immaculata for a Black History Month celebration.[11][12] Alston and Johnson were originally invited by the school's African-American Heritage Committee as part of the school's "Influential African American Women" theme.[13] The invitation was rescinded after there were threats to protest the event due to Alston and Johnson being openly gay public officials.[12][14] Fr. Christopher VanHaight, the pastor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Head of Immaculata Catholic School, said he made the decision to rescind the invitation and close the school for a day after receiving messages from some school parents voicing concern about having a "pro-gay marriage" politician speak at the school, claiming that Alston speaking would "question the school's commitment to upholding Catholic moral teaching."[13] He also stated that the school "needed a break from politicians."[13] Fr. VanHaight's decision was supported by Bishop Luis R. Zarama and the Diocese of Raleigh.[13][12]

In May 2022, a transgender woman, Wilhelmina Indermaur, was hired by a family to serve as an in-school aide for their disabled child.[15][16] Indermaur, who already was employed as a nanny for another family whose children attend the school, was active in the school community and often attended mass at the church.[17] In June 2022, Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, the pastor at Immaculate Conception, called a meeting between school administration, clerical staff, and the family to announce that Indermaur would not be allowed to work on Immaculata's campus because she is transgender.[18][19][20] The day before Indermaur was informed of the school's decision, the church posted Pride Month posts on their social media accounts with the caption, "Immaculate Conception welcomes members of the LGBTQ community."[19][17] The church and school's decision ultimately left Indermaur without a job.[15]

Notable clergy

  • Casey Cole, Catholic priest, Franciscan friar, and internet celebrity

References

  1. ^ a b c "History of IC". Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
  2. ^ a b "WILLIAM T O'BRIEN HOUSE | Open Durham".
  3. ^ a b c d e f Anderson, Jean Bradley (1990). Durham County: A History of Durham County, North Carolina. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press & The Historic Preservation Society of Durham, Inc. pp. 226, 227. ISBN 0-8223-1056-2.
  4. ^ Patricia S. Dickinson (December 1983). "William Thomas O'Brien House" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  5. ^ "IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (SECOND) | Open Durham". www.opendurham.org.
  6. ^ a b "IMMACULATA SCHOOL / 721 BURCH AVE. | Open Durham". www.opendurham.org.
  7. ^ a b c d "History & Mission - Immaculata Catholic School". www.immaculataschool.org.
  8. ^ "LGBTQ Ministry- Immaculata Conception - Durham - , North Carolina". LGBTQ Ministry- Immaculata Conception - Durham - , North Carolina.
  9. ^ "LGBTQ-Friendly Parishes & Faith Communities". New Ways Ministry.
  10. ^ "LGBTQ Ministry". Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
  11. ^ Willets, Sarah (February 8, 2019). "Durham City Council Member Dis-Invited from Black History Month Program Amid Protests". INDY Week.
  12. ^ a b c Smith, Ken; Krueger, Sarah (7 February 2019). "Spurned by Catholic school, gay Durham councilwoman sees teaching moment". Durham, NC: WRAL-TV. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d EST, Jason Murdock On 2/8/19 at 11:39 AM (February 8, 2019). "North Carolina Catholic school cancels black history event after protest threats over gay speaker, a former student". Newsweek.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "A Catholic School Canceled Classes Over Protests Of A Black Lesbian Speaker's Event". BuzzFeed News.
  15. ^ a b "'It was really, really hurtful': Transgender woman says she was denied job at Durham Catholic school". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. June 29, 2022.
  16. ^ Doerfler, Grace (July 9, 2022). "Transgender Teaching Aide for Disabled Student Denied Job by Catholic School". New Ways Ministry.
  17. ^ a b "Trans Parishioner Denied Job by Catholic School". www.advocate.com. August 3, 2022.
  18. ^ Staff, A. O. L. "Educator says she lost job at Durham Catholic school because she's transgender". www.aol.com.
  19. ^ a b Geller, Lena (June 29, 2022). "Durham's Immaculata Catholic School Denies Job to Transgender Parishioner". INDY Week.
  20. ^ Rose, Amanda (2 August 2022). "Transgender woman says she's not allowed to work at Durham Catholic school". Spectrum News 1 North Carolina. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
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