“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
“God will not ask how well I followed the rules: he will ask how well I loved.” — Charles Benedict God 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
“I realized I needed to think about how to leave priesthood—if it was even possible.” — Charles Benedict Catholic Copy Share Image
“Growing up, there were Catholics and (gasp) non-Catholics, such as Protestants.” — Charles Benedict Protestants Copy Share Image
“If there was Altar Server training to do, I was ready to help. Exciting, right? It was for me.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“they were happy I was choosing to be happy because they could tell I was unhappy.” — Charles Benedict Happiness 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
“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
“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
“When it seems the gods demand a sacrifice, patience and prudence always promote a well-thought stronger response over an in-the-moment reaction.” — Charles Benedict Patience 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
“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
“Dominic told me that Sebastian had left priesthood after twelve years of active ministry and came out of the closet, just like… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“After all, I had a four-year bachelor’s degree and a five-year master’s degree—albeit in Divinity. I was well-educated and I could contribute… — Charles Benedict 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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“It made little sense that God could be an all-loving, wonderful, and powerful God who loves his creation, except the gays. After… — Charles Benedict Powerful god Copy Share Image
“Two of my closest seminary friends broke all contact with me after I told them I was leaving priesthood and coming out… — Charles Benedict Coming out of the closet 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 Family Copy Share Image
“(My trust-in-God issues were about accepting who he created me to be, not about hiding in the priesthood.)” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I knew that a publicly gay priest would alienate many parishioners no matter where I was assigned.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“Along the growing struggle of accepting my sexuality, the growing struggle of dealing with loneliness became insurmountable.” — Charles Benedict Homosexuality Copy Share Image
“You’re like a twelve-year-old-boy who doesn’t know what he wants to do.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“Homosexuality and pedophilia were aggressively aligned as equal and the same.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“Masturbation was a safe sexual topic while homosexuality was not.” — Charles Benedict Homosexuality Copy Share Image
“It was Tanner, the third guy, who snuck into my heart and became my third boyfriend.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“When you leave for seminary in a few weeks, I hope to have convinced you of how much I love you.” — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“For once, the super power of superhuman speed proved useful in the safety of residents.” — Charles Benedict Power Copy Share Image
“By the time my final year—fourth theology—rolled around, I had accepted my sexuality” — Charles Benedict Homosexuality Copy Share Image
“I’ll always know the Power of God did something amazing through me that day.” — Charles Benedict Amazing 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
“What part of that last sentence is consistent with what homosexuality is today? I’ll tell you…none of it.” — Charles Benedict Homosexuality Copy Share Image
“Could I survive in the world as an ex-priest that no one wanted anything to do with?” — Charles Benedict Priest Copy Share Image
“Reese was the boy I explored my sexuality with in sophomore year and I fell in love with him.” — Charles Benedict Love 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… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
