“I firmly believed and preached—albeit discreetly—that everyone had a place in the Kingdom of Heaven. I realized that I preached God’s love to so many, but I wasn’t sure if I believed it for myself.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“Am I really going to hell for being gay?” Or, “I think I was born a woman in a man’s body. Does that make… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“When we reconnected, he was there to guide me as I navigated the uncharted waters of dating” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“Could I survive in the world as an ex-priest that no one wanted anything to do with?” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“As a teenager, his teachers recognized his academic prowess and brilliant intelligence. They suggested he move into monastic life in order to further his studies. By the time he was seventeen, he made his first vows and was one of the smartest men in the monastery—too smart, it seemed. His fellow monks did not appreciate his intellect and his ability… — Charles Benedict Copy Share
“She could not handle telling people I had left priesthood, that I was gay, and she refused to use words associated with my sexuality.… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I found the courage to admit I was gay. This is when I said the words in my head and said them out loud… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“They were astute enough to know that I needed someone to share my life with…and they were right.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“The particular rectory I moved in to was attached to the church. This was arguably one of the worst setups possible because living above… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“We did, however, deliver and expel many homosexual and sodomitic demons from my body, mind, heart, mouth, soul, penis, and anus.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“Every so often, Zach would say things like, “I like you,” or, “We think a lot alike.” I naively agreed with him because even… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image