Gay Catholic University Chaplain Fired For NOH8 Post Asks Pope To Meet With LGBT People In US

A beloved Catholic priest, fired from Seton Hall University for posting a NOH8 image to Facebook, is asking the Pope to meet with LGBT Catholics when he visits the U.S. later this year.

In May, Rev. Warren Hall posted a NOH8 image to his Facebook page to show support for the LGBT group’s stance on equality and against bullying. He was very quickly fired from his position as chaplain at Seton Hall University, sparking a huge backlash for the Catholic University and the Archdiocese of Newark, which controls the school.

Shortly after being fired, Rev. Hall, who has been a priest for literally half his life, 26 years, came out as gay.

When a priest is “fired” he does not automatically leave the priesthood, but awaits a new assignment. None has come for Father Hall, nor has any salary. Hall is living off his savings and with the help of friends, as David Gibson at Religion News Service (RNS) reports.

“I am not a theologian. I am not a politician. But I am gay. So I think I have something to say at this moment in time,” Hall tells RNS. “Removing or firing LGBT people is doing more harm to the faithful than having a gay priest or teacher,” he adds.

When he was fired, Hall offered this consolation to his students via Twitter:

Hall, 52, is, once again taking the high road and taking action. 

He’s written a letter (above) directly to Pope Francis, explaining his situation, and asking the pontiff to “find time to listen to the challenges faced by LGBT people, especially those who are Catholic and wish to remain a part of the Church they have grown up in, which they love, and yet which it seems is alienating them more and more,” when he visits the U.S. in September.

“Good teachers are being fired, pastoral and compassionate priests and religious women [nuns] are being silenced and accept it out of fear of being disciplined by their superiors, and good, faith-filled people are leaving the Church as they witness all of this happening,” Hall wrote.

“As a gay priest, I am personally experiencing all of these things.”

By all accounts. Hall was beloved, and loved Seton Hall. As NCRM reported in May, the University published a video made by Father Hall, in which he explains his philosophy of connecting with students over his two loves: spirituality and sports. That video has since been removed.

A Change.org petition asking for Hall to be reinstated garnered nearly 12,000 signatures.

Hall is hoping for but not expecting a response from Pope Francis. He say the Pontiff “could more strongly offer the message that this is your church, too. You are welcome here,” referring to LGBT Catholics.

 

Image: Screenshot (File) via Seton Hall University/YouTube