“I think my parents were overjoyed to see the wonder in my eyes because it reassured them that I was on track… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“By the time my final year—fourth theology—rolled around, I had accepted my sexuality” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“At that point in time, the need to be myself had become a competing desire with my priesthood, but I didn’t quite… — 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 Copy Share Image
“At some point, Haaken and I were alone in the backyard and he asked follow-up questions about whether I had taken time… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“It was wonderful to see Reese after almost five years. We spent the better part of an afternoon and evening together and… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“It was only months after my time with Haaken that I realized he also didn’t care whether I was gay or not.… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“From that moment on, I never had another heated argument or conversation about my sexuality because my mother could not understand how… — 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 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 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
