Quote by Charles Benedict

“I knew that a publicly gay priest would alienate many parishioners no matter where I was assigned.”

— Charles Benedict

“As a gay man, the Church oppressed me and I walked willingly into its repressive and controlling arms. As a gay man, I willingly…

— Charles Benedict

“Leaving the priesthood and coming out as gay would be a double whammy that would be difficult for some in the family, especially my…

— Charles Benedict

“My son, the ex-priest who, by the way, is gay.”

— Charles Benedict

“During my tenure at seminary, at least two gay couples formed and voluntarily left because they had fallen in love and no longer wanted…

— Charles Benedict

“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

“He reminded me that I was not the first priest to acknowledge his sexuality and that despite the Vatican’s stance, a chaste and celibate…

— Charles Benedict

“Two of my closest seminary friends broke all contact with me after I told them I was leaving priesthood and coming out of the…

— Charles Benedict

Is it like gay men go into the priesthood because they figure, Well, this'll solve my problem. I can't be a homosexual in the…

— Bill Maher

Any deep-rooted prejudice against others, such as homophobia or misogyny, would be grounds for rejecting a candidate for the priesthood, but not their sexual…

— Timothy Radcliffe

“Though it pains me to write this, I knew that if I wrote to the Holy Father and told him I was gay, I…

— Charles Benedict

The priesthood in many ways is the ultimate closet in Western civilization, where gay people particularly have hidden for the past two thousand years.

— John Shelby Spong