“I was constantly surrounded by people in love and I always went back to the rectory—and to bed—alone.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“Reese was the boy I explored my sexuality with in sophomore year and I fell in love with him.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“During my tenure at seminary, at least two gay couples formed and voluntarily left because they had fallen in love and no… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I fell head-over-heels in love with Lance in the middle of first theology. Like others before me, I fell in love in… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“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… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“We can’t have a God of love who makes everything that is good, who wants us to be happy, wants us to… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“Our bond of friendship strengthened over the year, and we became kindred spirits, even before we found love in each other.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I discovered I was Lance’s first love—a joyous and dangerous reality—because we had not come to seminary to fall in love.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I am no longer fit to administer the sacraments because I express love in the way God intended for me—with another man.” — 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… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“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
