Catholic Priest Announces He Is Gay

In 2011, a slender book came out called Hidden Voices: Reflections of a Gay, Catholic Priest. The author was “Anonymous.” “This book is for all of those who are being or have been driven away,” reads the introduction.

“And that’s not just the gay population; it’s all of those who have accepted a member of their family, all of those who have allied as friends. They too have been silenced and shamed, ostracized by a Church teaching and hierarchal positioning that will not allow us to support, love, nurture and foster positive gay relationships in our Church.”

Earlier this week, Father Gary Meier, most recently of Saints Teresa & Bridget Parish in north St. Louis, revealed that he is the author. Although he says he was never truly “in the closet,” the announcement is a form of coming out.

“I know in my heart and my gut I need to stand in solidarity with those who’re being fired from their jobs, denied sacrament, excommunicated,” he tells.

Meier says that the church’s views on homosexuality were very different in the ’90s when he was in seminary. He says it was always known to his teachers, if not explicitly stated, that he is gay, and that so long as he was celibate, his orientation wasn’t seen as a problem. That changed when the pedophilia scandal broke in 2002.

“In 2005 they come with this hard stance of, ‘We’re not going to ordain gay priests,'” he says. “I was thinking I could try to find a way to reconcile my personal beliefs about being gay and what an incredible gift it is, not a cross, not an intrisic disorder…it was unsuccessful.”

He became frustrated enough to write Hidden Voices, then took a leave of absence in 2012 to earn his masters of counseling at University of Missouri-St. Louis. Finally, he resolved to stand behind his words in the book with his real name.

Here is what he posted to his personal website and to his Facebook page on Wednesday evening:

Announcement

“On May 23, 2013, I will be celebrating my 15 year anniversary to the priesthood. On the eve of this anniversary, I am releasing the 2nd edition of my book “Hidden Voices, Reflections of a Gay, Catholic Priest” which was originally published in 2011 anonymously.

The second edition, now available, has one main difference – it is no longer anonymous. The decision to release the book under my name was not an easy one to make but one I felt was necessary.

It has been difficult to remain part of a hierarchy that has been so hostile towards homosexuals in recent years. This is especially true considering nearly 30% of all successful teenage suicides are attributed to sexual identity issues. Our church once stood for and represented the radical nature of God’s love for all people.

That is not the true today – especially towards the LGBT community and therefore I feel compelled to stand in solidarity with those Catholic’s who have lost their jobs, have been denied the sacraments, have been excommunicated or who have been made to feel “less than” by their church leaders because of who they love.

I am not sure where exactly any of this will lead. It is a huge leap of faith and to be perfectly honest with you, very frightening. I know that while many will celebrate and be grateful for this publication, others will be angry and upset and feel as if I am betraying the church.

I have no such intention. I am just a man trying to live a life of integrity and speak the truth that God has given me to speak. I do not mean the church any harm and in fact I still love the church very much.

I see my speaking out as an act of love toward a community which was born of God’s radical inclusivity. Somehow we have lost that in our church, I would like us to get that back.

It is my hope that you will take a moment to read my book with an open mind and heart and see this as an opportunity to love, support and welcome all people regardless of their sexual orientation.

In the meantime please know that I will be praying for you and our church and ask for your prayers as well. In addition, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments – I will look forward to hearing from you.”

Meier says he also sent a copy of his book and a letter revealing himself as the author to the archbishop this week.

“Of course, the biggest obstacle is fear. The fear of the backlash, the loss of faculties, loss of income, loss of social status,” says Meier. “I don’t know what their response will be…whether the diocese takes away my faculties or not, I’m not going to use them.”

As to whether or not Meier will ever be allowed to have a parish again, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese says “there is no comment at this time with regard to Fr. Meier’s future.”

Even Meier himself doesn’t have much comment on his future – he’s not sure if he’ll attempt to continue being a priest or if he’ll enter a more secular existence. But he doesn’t regret his time so far as a man of the cloth.

“I have no doubt I was called into the priesthood,” he says. “Pretty amazing stuff has happened with God working through me.”

17 COMMENTS

  1. My beloved church have made its stand clear on dis issue seVeral times. Its never going to b allowed in the church! Gbam!
    …the truth about being gay is a very hidden one!!!, one of which is dat,actually only few of those who practise it are actually gay. Host ofothers are just working for their master! Helping promote immorality in d world….
    …clearly,we know dat a catholic priest has no wife,and therefore no sexual life(be it gay or otherwise)
    so wat is this man actually saying?
    Is he saying dat he need to get married or wat?
    Or have he been comiting the sacrilage secretly and now wants to confess?
    ..even the writer of dis article have his incinuations, everyone is just looking for a peice of crap to say about the church of christ…..BEWARE,FOR JESUS IS WATCHING!

  2. Meier is not the first priest to betray the church teachings neither will he be the last..there has been Arieus in the 2nd century AD, Tertulla in the 5th century AD, Martin Luther in the 14th century, just to mention a few..but d church in Rome has always survived it & will continue to do so..Roman Catholic has always stood its ground against all forms of homosexuality & will never support any gay course according to the Canon laws of Rome..since Rev. Fr. Meier has come out to let everyone know(including d church hierarchy) that he’s gay, i know one thing for sure, he’s going to be stripped of his priesthood & forbidden to receive holy communion & other Holy rites if he chooses to remain a catholic as a mere congregational member..

    • @Pat, I really don’t see how Martin Luther should be mentioned amongst Tertuilan and co. Martin was a reformer and not against the Church. Please be objective in your analysis. I wonder if these sodomites don’t read the Bible concerning God’s position on homosexuality, the Bible even calls them Dogs! They keep claiming that they were created that way, but God cannot contradict Himself by creating someone to be what He detest and condemns.! All homosexuals are agents and children of the devil who need to REPENT or face wrath of God’s judgment! I which Bible Meier reads and teaches! Shame!

  3. This man is not ashamed of himself, he claims to be a reverend father but commit such immorality, what pains me most is that they are misleading the church of God, I wonder what utility he drives from sleeping with his fellow man, If he is tired of been a RF, let him quit and marry a with a wife instead of deceiving himself there. My major concern is for our posterity,
    But nevertheless, LET GOD JUDGE……….

  4. I pray GOD to open his eyes. I still wonder why some people are just so disgusting. If you’re loving your same sex, why then do you go and adopt children tfhe other sex gives birth to? Why not make love to yourself and give birth to children? Lesbians go to men to impregnate them, yet they claim they are lesbians. Gay adopts children that comes out of a womans womb, yet you talk rubbish. I pray you’ll all see reasons to wash your dark face and see the light……

  5. Surprising to us? No….it shouldn’t! It’s jst that we christians should get ready,cos the end-time has come. Imagine! An ordained priest of God proudly announces he’s gay….nd suggesting it should be legalised in the church of God. Incredulous! Christians,stand firm cos anti-christ has arrived! U r blessed

  6. Thank God, the devil has been revealed. Shame on you evil man, you were never a true priest, but a devil working in the midst of annointed men of God, deceiving them by trying to sleep with them. A Pedophilia like you, molesting innocent male kids. But today God has caught up with you. You will end your priesthood here, and your days of agony and pain begins untill you repent and confess your evil. Shameless fool!