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Gay Singing Group Says Springfield Bishop Prevented It From Taking Part In Concert

The Pioneer Valley Gay Men's Chorus in 2016.
Tynan Power
The Pioneer Valley Gay Men's Chorus in 2016.

The Pioneer Valley Gay Men's Chorus is crying foul after it says it was told it couldn't sing at a church holiday concert on orders from the Catholic bishop in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

The group said it had been rehearsing for a concert at Saint Teresa's in South Hadley for weeks when members got the news.

Chorus members said they were uninvited from participating after the Springfield Catholic Diocese received complaints.

Henry Gibson, who sings with the gay men's chorus, said the decision Bishop Mitchell Rozanski allegedly made doesn't sit well with him.

"It's upsetting and disappointing and shocking that this would happen in Massachusetts," he said. "It's overall very accepting and progressive in the issue of gays."

The pastor at the church where the concert was held could not be reached for comment. And a spokesman for Bishop Rozanski said the diocese would not comment on the matter.

Correction: An earlier version of this story referenced the Springfield "Archdiocese." It is actually a diocese.

Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.