“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
“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
“I realized I did not want to be in a relationship with her. Hindsight and growth allow me to realize that my… — Charles Benedict Hindsight 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 Brothers and sisters 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
“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
“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
“Fred, who was probably gay, didn’t bother to hide himself and didn’t care if you looked. Then again, he never hinted at… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I had my own weight set in the basement and I subscribed to Men’s Fitness magazine. The beauty of receiving this magazine… — Charles Benedict Fitness Copy Share Image
“Then he slowly came out, fearing repercussions from his family and friends. I can’t imagine how difficult it was for him, but… — Charles Benedict Family Copy Share Image
“As a gay man, the Church oppressed me and I walked willingly into its repressive and controlling arms. As a gay man,… — 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 Children Copy Share Image
“I quickly realized I had backed myself into a corner with no knowledge or information about how to do something different. My… — Charles Benedict Education Copy Share Image
“In early January 2002, when Rev. James Porter and Rev. John Geoghan abuse cases appeared on the headlines of the Boston Globe,… — Charles Benedict Beyond belief Copy Share Image
“In November of 2010, one-and-a-half years after stepping away from ministry, I contacted the bishop and requested that we begin the laicization… — Charles Benedict Priesthood 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
“During my tenure at seminary, at least two gay couples formed and voluntarily left because they had fallen in love and no… — Charles Benedict Gay couples 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
“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
“I did not return to that beach until after I had come out, but I always remembered the laugh I shared when… — Charles Benedict Homosexuality 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
“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
“She could not handle telling people I had left priesthood, that I was gay, and she refused to use words associated with… — Charles Benedict Priesthood Copy Share Image
“Fr. Norman prayed over me and delivered many spirits and demons from my body, and although I became happier, but the gay… — 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 Expel Copy Share Image
“Leaving the priesthood and coming out as gay would be a double whammy that would be difficult for some in the family,… — Charles Benedict Family 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
“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 Homosexuality Copy Share Image
“Though I wholeheartedly supported celibacy at the start of my seminary career, my opinion changed as I made my way toward and… — Charles Benedict Catholic Copy Share Image
“They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from… — Charles Benedict Life 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… — Charles Benedict Copy Share Image
“I think the answer, though unfortunate, is simple: In Christian families, we grow up learning that in God’s eyes, there’s sin, and… — Charles Benedict Church 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
“As the trimester wound to a close with no apparent success, our spiritual directors laid down the law and told us we… — Charles Benedict Priesthood 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
“The thing I hated most were funerals—not because of an inability to deal with death or dying, but because of the number… — Charles Benedict Death Copy Share Image
“God made me gay; I did not choose this. He made me so I would love another man. And that is good… — 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 Catholic Copy Share Image
