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You know, assuming for the moment that the story is true, we don't have to assume that he was a practicing homosexual. That said, however, the Catholic Church considers homosexuality a grave moral disorder, and even if a priest is living a celebate life, it is wrong to IDENTIFY with a lifestyle that is sinful. There is a very fine line between showing love for a sinner, and identifying with the sinner's lifetyle.

No one has really pushed the issue of the Father possibly being a successful ex-gay, but that would be just as plausible as those who claim he was a homosexual - I would think even moreso. If he was celebate and also appreciated beautiful women, I would think he would fulfill all the critera of a happy ex-gay. There seems to be more concrete evidence of that than the other. But you don't see Christian groups making unproven claims like that because they are respecting his memory.

Agree, he may not have been practicing. But it really doesn't matter, I view Fr Mychal as a hero, and thank him for bringing comfort to the dying, even tho' it ended his own life. I see no point in discussing.

A personal story comes to mind. I know a Benedictine monk (brother, not a priest) who considers himself homosexual, but not practicing, and told me so. I assumed as much, considering what else he'd told, and a few mannerisms. I was somewhat offended that he told me, since I cared more about what he contributed to his Order, which was considerable; he was a music teacher, organist, even wrote music. Having known many priests in my life time, and assume all are/were celibate, I prefer to view them in that manner, than having sexual preference, excluding pedophilia.