RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia man has filed a federal lawsuit against a Catholic diocese-owned assisted living home that he says fired him because he’s gay.

John Murphy served as executive director of the Saint Francis Home for about a week before he says two Catholic Diocese of Richmond officials told him he was fired because his same-sex marriage goes against church doctrine.

The 64-year-old filed a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September. The commission didn’t promptly resolve the matter and gave Murphy the right to sue. The lawsuit was filed federal court earlier this month.

A diocese spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a phone message on Tuesday. She said in October that the diocese expects its employees to uphold the church’s teachings, including those consistent with “the sanctity of marriage.”