Catholic School Principal Fired for Marrying Without Annulment Amid Fiancé's Cancer Battle
Outrage erupts as a Minnesota Catholic school principal is terminated and escorted from the premises for marrying her cancer-stricken fiancé before obtaining an annulment of a previous divorce, sparking protests and calls for the priest's removal.
A Catholic church in Waseca, Minnesota, terminated the principal of its elementary school for marrying her fiancé before securing an annulment of a previous marriage. The decision, made by the church's priest, Father Glenn Frerichs, has led to outrage among parents and parishioners.
Tammy Seys, 51, began her role at Sacred Heart Catholic School in December 2025. Less than a year later, she was fired and escorted from the building. Seys and her fiancé, Patrick Sexton, 64, are both Catholic and had been divorced from previous marriages. Upon learning that Sexton had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the couple decided they could not wait for the lengthy annulment process to conclude before marrying.
Seys informed Father Frerichs of her decision to marry, understanding it could jeopardize her position at the Catholic school. She offered to conclude her contract at the end of the school year or leave at a time agreeable to the priest, provided a transition plan was in place to ensure leadership continuity. However, on September 22, less than a month after meeting with Frerichs, Seys was informed of her immediate termination.
"There was no humanity given to me at any level by my priest, at the diocese, absolutely nothing," Seys told the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Father Frerichs addressed the backlash in a statement to parishioners on September 27, asserting that Seys chose to proceed with a "marriage outside the Catholic Church." He emphasized that marriage within the church is a sacred institution with strict rules that cannot be compromised. Frerichs also stated that Seys's termination was unrelated to her desire to care for her fiancé, as the church permits partners to cohabitate under such circumstances.
"Please know that this outcome was not my wish," Frerichs said.
Protests ensued outside the church, with demonstrators holding signs in support of Seys and expressing disapproval of Frerichs's actions. A petition circulating among parishioners garnered over 100 signatures, demanding an investigation into Frerichs's leadership and his removal. Some parishioners indicated they would seek a new church if Frerichs remained in his position.
Parents voiced concerns that Seys's abrupt departure could destabilize the elementary school, which has reportedly faced financial difficulties. Staff confirmed these anxieties, with some expressing devastation over Seys's exit and the ongoing struggle to find a new principal, marking the fourth such change in four years.
On October 9, a substitute teacher, Kristen Walker, 40, stated she was also dismissed and escorted from the premises for protesting the decision. Other teachers at the school are reportedly seeking new employment in light of the situation.
The Daily Mail has sought comment from Sacred Heart Church and Father Frerichs.