Gay Priests Breaking Silence
The setting, with its soaring cathedral ceiling and sacraments, is typical of any Catholic service, but the similarities stopped with this sermon: “Because if there’s anything that an LGBTQ person will know, it is that we’re going to face opposition,” said Father Greg Greiten.Yes, Father Greiten said “we” members of the LGBTQ community. He is one of very few openly gay priests.
When asked how many there are, he said, “I’ve always heard the number thrown out, like, ten of us, that are really out there.”
There are roughly 38,000 priests in America.
Correspondent Seth Doane Asked, “What are you risking by being out?”
“Sometimes it feels like I have to walk on a tightrope,” he replied.
Father Greiten “came out” to his congregation in this Milwaukee suburb about three years ago, at age 51, when he announced, “I am a gay priest, and a celibate priest.” This moment came after a lifetime of struggle, serving a church that teaches that “acting on” homosexual feelings is a sin.