Organizers of a group of people trying to get St. Joseph the Worker Catholic priest Father Tom Held to resign were less than impressed with the Diocese of Saginaw’s announcement of his departure.
Jenny Davis, Erin Ervin, Jenny Hovey and Kara Lynch – though not members of the Beal City parish – now plan to take a step back and allow parishioners to begin to heal and move forward following Tuesday’s announcement that Held resigned, with Bishop Robert Gruss noting the “division, lack of charity and the wounds caused by the division in the St. Joseph the Worker Parish community” bringing “deep sadness to the Lord Jesus.”
Members of the Facebook group “Remove Father Tom Held” responded with surprise that the bishop appeared to place the blame on the community and not the priest, who stirred controversy when he apologized to the parish and parents of St. Joseph the Worker School students for allowing openly gay Mt. Pleasant author and actor Dominic Thrasher read his book to preschool children in March.
Lynch said the four organizers remain united in their effort to fight for humanity and protect those in the LGBTQ+ community “over the hatred directed at them from a man who is supposed to do just the opposite.”
“Our efforts opened up a door for so much more abuse that has taken place over the years,” Lynch said. “It took a lot of people to come forward and tell their story, and by doing so, Tom Held’s true character was revealed.
“We hope that community members, parents and past parishioners can begin healing. Let us not forget the last straw that got us here and be intentional to show love and respect towards others who may be different from us.”
Current St. Joseph parishioners were also displeased with the statement from the bishop.
Kate Beltinck, a parishioner and parent of children attending St. Joseph the Worker School, said she is relieved that Held has left and that his resignation marks a significant moment for the Beal City community, “one that fills us with hope for the future.”
“Father Held’s departure comes after a period of division and disillusionment within our parish,” Beltinck said. “His words and actions often caused discord and disunity among parishioners and families of the school.
“However, with his resignation, we can finally begin the process of healing and restoring the sense of unity that defines our community.”
Beltinck said she is optimistic about the future of the parish and that the community can work together to foster a welcome and inclusive environment where everyone is valued and supported.
Daniel Schafer, who grew up in Beal City and was an active member of the parish until he moved away to go to college, stopped practicing because of "these types of teachings and rhetoric being exalted from church leadership."
Saying he rediscovered his spirituality and wanted to return to the church to reconnect, family members told him he shouldn't.
"The response we have received from the bishop is not only entirely inadequate, it also completely twisted the narrative to blame and shame the community that has been the victim of Held's abuse," Shafer said. "The bishop implying Held cannot bring unity is deceptive and dishonest."
Schafer wants Gruss to identify to the community who is causing division and "who isn't being charitable with whom?"
"The bishop effective reprimanded the community for standing together and demanding an abusive priest be removed from a position that gives him the ability to still harm," Schafer said. "This statement says a lot with what it fails to actually say or address.
"The one causing the division in the community is Held. He alone has divided the parish between good Catholics and bad Catholics. He purposefully withheld sacrament from parishioners when he personally decides they are not worthy of it."
