I am the Number One Official Gay Priest of the Roman Catholic Church.
None of the others seem to be interested in claiming this title. Any that want to can wrestle me for it.
It occurred to me that there ought to be a reservoir of thought on the subject of gay priests that I would maintain in addition to my other blog, Farmboyz/PergeModo, which is more preoccupied with New York City, Fort Lauderdale, art, sex, travel, socializing, architecture and fiction.
Some would say that I ought to be labeled "Ex-Priest". Not really. Two Monsignor friends of mine recently checked into my offical status at the chancery office of my diocese. The record contains no mention of termination. It simply stops when I stopped holding down a parish assignment. I guess they wanted to keep the door open with hopes that I might return. That may change should I begin to be read more widely, but I cannot see the point of worrying much about that. There is air to be cleared, and I am in the rather unique position to do it.
For those beginning to salivate:
I do not intend to "out" any gay priests or bishops or cardinals or popes.
I do not intend to express hatred and rage toward the Catholic Church because I feel neither hatred nor rage, only profound disappointment.
I do intend to help people realize that most priests are gay and that there are some valid reasons for their hiding this fact, as well as a mountain of invalid reasons.
It would give me no satisfaction to injure the Catholic Church. It would give me great satisfaction to move that Church forward even slightly in the direction of complete acceptance of homosexuality and its activities.
I do intend to shoot at hypocrisy and stupidity whenever and wherever it is given voice within the ranks of the Catholic clergy.
OK?
2 comments:
I am glad you are writing as Father Tony. I have been curious to read more about this integral part of your life, and your thoughts of the church post parish assignment. As a gay man that grew up within the Episcopal Church, I struggled to maintain faith despite the large amount of vilification directed at people like me. My faith has been under constant attack since coming out in my early 20's, and I no longer have much belief in God, and certainly no respect for organized religion. Have you been able to maintain your religious beliefs all this time, or has your faith waned? Curious to know, as one who has been back and forth on this issue most of my adult life...
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