Utica (RC) Priest Discloses He is Gay

AP Wire (direct feec) | March 30, 2004

[NYer]

UTICA, N.Y. (AP) _ A priest with a history of advocacy for gay and lesbian rights has publicly acknowledged he is gay.

The Rev. Fred Daley, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church, is believed to be the first priest in the seven-county Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse to publicly disclose that he is homosexual. ``I'm the same person today as I was yesterday,'' Daley said. ``My expectation and prayer is that people will continue to love and respect me.''

Despite a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety about coming out publicly, Daley said he felt called by God to do so and is ready to accept whatever ``rejection or misunderstanding'' he encounters. Daley told his congregation over the weekend. All priests are committed to celibacy, and sexual orientation alone does not lead to dismissal from the priesthood, said Danielle Cummings, communications director for the diocese.

Daley, 56, has been pastor of St. Francis de Sales since 1992. For at least 30 years, the Utica parish has had a reputation for supporting the poor and fighting injustice. Last week, Daley received a ``Real Hero'' award from the United Way of Greater Utica in recognition of his work with the poor.

Daley was ordained in 1974. He also served at St. Mary Church, Jamesville. In 1987, while co-director of vocations for the diocese, he led a group of 16 local Catholics on a 10-day retreat in Nicaragua.

In September 2002, organizers of an interfaith Sept. 11 memorial service in Utica removed Daley as the main speaker after criticism of his advocacy for the gay and lesbian community. Daley has celebrated Masses for gay and lesbian Catholics. Diocesan officials have said his participation in such services is not in opposition to church teaching.

[Desdemona]

Oh, good grief. He wasn't getting enough attention so he drops this grenade? One case of why homosexuals should not be ordained.

[Coleus]

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ON THE PASTORAL CARE OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS 

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS 

Guidelines for Education within the Family
THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE FAMILY
THE TRUTH AND MEANING OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

Catechism on Homosexuality

[RobbyS]

Someone needs to put him to the test, as Eck did Luther at Leipsig.

[StBen3]

Its a good thing this "presider" isn't a valid priest. Who would want to take the cookie from this sodomite fellow? I hope he power blasted his hands before the novus ordo service!

So this fellow may or may not be a practicing sodomite. Why call me a thief if I do not steal?

Scripture alert: I should appologize in advance. I picked some "homophobic, judgemental" bible verses, oh no!

Deuteronomy 23:17, "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel."

1 Kings 14:24, "And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel."

1 Kings 15:11-12, "And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made."

Leviticus Ch 18:4 Defile not yourselves with any of these things with which all the nations have been defiled, which I will cast out before you,

29 Every soul that shall commit any of these abominations, shall perish from the midst of his people

Romans Ch 1. 27 And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error.

[Loyalist]

An admission of homosexuality by a priest should be sufficient not only to remove him from ministry, but also to open an investigation into possible sexual offences.

Even if Fr. Daley has not himself committed such offences, he almost certainly knows other members of the homosexual underground who have.

His involvement in the Nicaragua situation should also be looked into, as it is possible that he may be involved with other subversive political organizations.

[BobCNY]

Thanks, I am trying to give him the benefit of the doubt in that he is stating, as a later post, might be referencing his orientation as opposed to him actually persuing a active homosexual/gay lifestyle.

I guess the best test would be what fruits (no snickers) his ministry in Utica has produced. Has his homilies and work been to correct other homosexuals to pursue a celibate life and to remind them that homosexuality is a grave sin? Has he setup a outreach program to move those away from the gay lifestyle? Has he voiced his support on issues on celibacy?

But based on the press that has been received in that parish in Utica, it does not seem to be the case. The priests statements are those of a dissent against the Magisterium.

[american colleen]

An admission of homosexuality by a priest should be sufficient not only to remove him from ministry, but also to open an investigation into possible sexual offences.

That's not right. Who would remove him from the ministry? The same people who deemed his calling fit for ordination?

You cannot assume that every homosexual is an abuser because that assumption is just not factual.

Now, upon reading some of the stuff that this priest says and preaches, I agree that it is pretty much obvious that he doesn't support Church teaching on sexuality. How can he? If he accepts himself as he is, he is in no position to not accept others as they are, regardless of their sins. That is the problem with homosexuality in the priesthood. It's easy to stay the way we are rather than convert and repent. Plus there is that false feeling of "safety in numbers."

I'd be interested in hearing his beliefs in original sin.

[rmichaelj]

From the Catholic Encyclopedia:
"Eck, undisturbed and with the instinct of the trained debater, drove his antagonist still further, until he finally admitted the fallibility of an ecumenical council,upon which he closed the discussion with the laconic remark: "If you believe a legitimately assembled council can err and has erred,then you are to me as a heathen and publican" (Köstlin-Kawerau, op. cit., I, 243-50). This was 15 July. Luther returned sullen and crestfallen to Wittenberg, from what had proved to him an inglorious tournament. "

Oh if only history would be so kind again- Corappi vs. Daley or Pavone vs. Daley at the Diet of Utica. Of course, the sad part is that this defeat drove Luther into open rebellion, but at least one would know where the priest actually stood if this happened (ie outside the Church).

[Notwithstanding]

The problem with your statements is called reality.
The reality is that this priest has been a homosexual activist. This in itself renders one unfaithful - and in an obstiante way.

Celebrating Mass for "gays and lesbians" is not that same as ministering to sinners. In fact, such Masses are CELEBRATIONS of SINFUL ACTS, not the disordered condition.

[NYer]

I believe that the ordination of gay men into the priesthood was and is a mistake by the Bishops which we are stuck dealing with until the practice is stopped.

Here's a fascinating look into gays in the priesthood. The writer shows they have been there for generations.

Are gay priests to blame?

[Notwithstanding]

Anyone joining this coming out party needs to be severely disciplined.

This is about GAY which is diferent than homosexually oriented. "GAY" is evil - it is a celebration of certain people's temptation to engage in evil acts. This is not to be celebrated - nor is it anything to be proud about.

GAY PRIDE is evil.

[johnb2004]

Not that many years ago if someone were thought to be homosexual, a doctor would be called in and some therapy started. Today, not only is it not considered a disease, but it is not considered a sin to act out on perverted desires.

[heyheyhey]

If there's nothing wrong with a gay priest you surely won't mind a "gay" Pope or leadership council made up of "gay" Cardinals.

There is ample evidence to the contrary.

Pro-Gay Chicago Catholic Priests Send Open Letter Ripping "Vile and Toxic" Rhetoric of the Vatican

[Luircin]

Here we go again... One wonders if this will result in a major schism, another Reformation and Counter-Reformation, or just a civil war within the church at large.

[Tantumergo]

"Not that many years ago if someone were thought to be homosexual, a doctor would be called in and some therapy started."

I understand that Anthrax therapy has a success rate of nearly 100% - I'd recommend that every sodomite try it.

[johnb2004]

If I even mention that homosexuality should be treated as a disease, I am looked upon as some semi-educated dunce who drags his knuckles.

[Tantumergo]

That says far more about the intellectual pygmies who are looking at you askance than it does about you!

P.S. I would never normally intentionally offend a pygmy, but I'm just having a bad-PC day.

[narses]

Gee, given a choice between a self-described homosexual priest and a SSPX Mass, or worse a school run by an avowed homosexual priest or one run by the SSPX, wanna guess which I would choose?

[dangus]

>> If he remains celibate and defends the Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality, there should be no problem. <<

And if he should sprout magic wings and fly in circles around the church steeple, bathing the parish in incandescent, pink light...

Both are as likely to happen.

Seriously, homosexuality should be taken as a warning sign to people considering the admission of a priest candidate to a seminary. However, once ordained a priest, discovering homophilic tendencies and feelings, provided they are not acted on, certainly does not create grounds for defrocking. "Gay sex" is a mortal sin, but homophilic tendencies are not sinful.

[dangus]

Put it this way: I'm chaste and I know I'm heterosexual.