Memphis, Tenn., Aug 19, 2019 / 10:10 am
The Diocese of Memphis is supporting a pastor whose staff denied a job to a black housekeeper on the grounds that his dog was racist. The diocese says the dog had a history of aggression and tended to become agitated around strangers with dark skin.
"Although the parish staff member's choice of words was highly unfortunate and imprecise-they were not motivated by racial animus," said Bishop David Talley of Memphis in an Aug. 16 letter.
"Rather, the concern by all involved was the safety of these women, one of whom was a stranger to the dog, and they knew that attempting to crate the dog would be dangerous when its owner was not present. Their concern was to prevent the cleaning company employees from being injured."
Fr. Jacek Kowal, pastor of the Catholic Church of the Incarnation in Collierville, has been accused of turning away LaShundra Allen as a housekeeper because she was black.