“Most priests hate weddings. Early on, they warned me that brides can be the most difficult people on the planet to work… — Charles Benedict Difficult people 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… — Charles Benedict Rectory Copy Share Image
“As the trimester wound to a close with no apparent success, our spiritual directors laid down the law and told us we… — Charles Benedict Religion Copy Share Image
“I knew early on I liked Ray, but I didn’t know why. I platonically crushed on him from a distance throughout grade… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I realized too late in my religious career how that simple phrase often served as an effective means of keeping me from… — Charles Benedict Religion Copy Share Image
“However, a priest with a spouse and potentially a family would have understood the gravity of the situation and responded appropriately.” — Charles Benedict Family Copy Share Image
“Youth and skill are no match for experience and treachery.” — Charles Benedict Skill Copy Share Image
“Reese was the first friend in my life whom I connected with emotionally and trusted.” — Charles Benedict Friend 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
“Masturbation was a safe sexual topic while homosexuality was not.” — Charles Benedict Homosexuality Copy Share Image
“For once, the super power of superhuman speed proved useful in the safety of residents.” — Charles Benedict Power Copy Share Image
“I was gay because I didn’t know if it would jeopardize my plans for priesthood and nobody wanted an out-of-the-closet gay priest… — Charles Benedict Priesthood Copy Share Image
“Dominic told me that Sebastian had left priesthood after twelve years of active ministry and came out of the closet, just like… — Charles Benedict Told Sebastian Copy Share Image
“Once again, I tried to change who I was because the emerging person deep within didn’t fit the expectations of the religious… — Charles Benedict Change Copy Share Image
“I still need to innovate, to break out-of-the-box, and be a force of change, but I have not figured out how to… — Charles Benedict Business Copy Share Image
“I began watching the It Gets Better videos that had just surged in popularity on YouTube and realized that although it would… — Charles Benedict Video 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
“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 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
“It also excludes emotionally binding relationships with others, attachments to people or things that interfere with one’s ability to minister to others,… — Charles Benedict Religion Copy Share Image
“Occasionally, formation staff would join us for these conversations. Since the media—and the Church at times—and the sensationalized public perception erroneously connected… — Charles Benedict Communication 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
“Whenever I visited Sebastian and Ryan in Chicago, they took me to the gay-friendly Catholic church they attended. I fell in love… — Charles Benedict Love Promised Copy Share Image
“First, the Catholic Church needs to pay more than lip service to the LGBTQ members of the faith. We are not to… — Charles Benedict Church 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 Kingdom of heaven 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 Muscular 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
“Homosexuality and pedophilia were aggressively aligned as equal and the same.” — 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
“A few days later, I approached Fr. Nathan and told him. Though stunned when the words hit his ears, he admitted he… — Charles Benedict 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
“I knew that a publicly gay priest would alienate many parishioners no matter where I was assigned.” — Charles Benedict Publicly Gay Copy Share Image
“I came so close to telling him I was thinking of leaving, but I didn’t. I also came close to telling him… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“(I am diagnosed with ADHD, this was not a random request. I just don’t like taking medicine if I don’t have to.)” — Charles Benedict Adhd Copy Share Image
“You have always had beautiful eyes to your mother and me. In fact, the day I first saw your mother’s eyes in… — Charles Benedict Beautiful eyes Copy Share Image
“The Church insists on teaching that my—along with so many other’s—homosexual inclination is intrinsically disordered and my homosexual acts—even with my husband—are… — Charles Benedict Church Copy Share Image
