“Youth and skill are no match for experience and treachery.” — Charles Benedict Youth Copy Share Image
“Fortunately, I was not alone: I had my husband at my side.” — Charles Benedict Marriage 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 Fall in love Copy Share Image
“God will not ask how well I followed the rules: he will ask how well I loved.” — Charles Benedict God 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 Friendship Copy Share Image
“I realized I needed to think about how to leave priesthood—if it was even possible.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I was constantly surrounded by people in love and I always went back to the rectory—and to bed—alone.” — Charles Benedict Constantly Copy Share Image
“And now, the worst had happened. Gay. Boyfriends. Caught. Perverts. Deviants. Sinners.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“After all, eighteen years of my life had been geared toward priesthood.” — Charles Benedict Catholic Copy Share Image
“They were astute enough to know that I needed someone to share my life with…and they were right.” — Charles Benedict Astute Copy Share Image
“The venerable goal of openness and communication to integrate celibacy had been taken away from us and replaced with threats of witch… — Charles Benedict Celibacy Copy Share Image
“I told her there was one more thing, and then I officially came out of the closet and told her I was… — 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 Love 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 First boyfriend Copy Share Image
“He reminded me that I was not the first priest to acknowledge his sexuality and that despite the Vatican’s stance, a chaste… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“In the spring of 2008, the time had come to begin the process of uniting four of the local parishes into one… — Charles Benedict Time Copy Share Image
“I realized I did not want to be in a relationship with her. Hindsight and growth allow me to realize that my… — Charles Benedict Psychology Copy Share Image
“Am I really going to hell for being gay?” Or, “I have a lot of lesbian thoughts in my head. Does that… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“That’s when I finally quit. I don’t know if Lance quit, but I was done. The last thing I needed to do… — Charles Benedict Another man 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… — Charles Benedict Intellect Copy Share Image
“I like to think I had an out-of-body experience, but really I imagined myself being an outsider who observed the dinner conversation… — Charles Benedict Another year Copy Share Image
“When the game heated up on the racquetball court, our shirts would often come off. I must admit, it was hard not… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“It was 1993, and Reese and I had just begun the last quarter of our junior year. I could no longer hang… — Charles Benedict Best friend Copy Share Image
“Since most boys (including me) learn masturbation around the time they hit puberty, they quickly develop a well-formed habit. As such, it’s… — Charles Benedict Habits Copy Share Image
“My husband grabbed my hand and held onto it as we walked down the aisle toward the exit and I did not… — Charles Benedict Marriage Copy Share Image
“As he told me how his parents had raided his room, I could tell his heart was filled with agony and regret.… — Charles Benedict Parenting Copy Share Image
“In hindsight, we were each other’s first boyfriend.” — Charles Benedict First boyfriend Copy Share Image
“I realized I needed to be more courageous like him, but that would take several years to become reality.” — Charles Benedict Courage Copy Share Image
