Priestly Bathroom Encounters

  
Father Paul claimed he talked to God and divined his greatness. It was Father Paul that recruited me in to seminary. He approached me one day to talk about why I was there, about the trouble I was causing by being who I was. "Jason, my son, can you tell me why you are here?"

"To be closer to God, Father. I want to be a priest." I replied.

"Well my son, I am afraid you can't be a priest because of who you are. I think you should leave the seminary," he said.

I saw Father Paul a few months later in a public bathroom cruising for sex.

The Apology

 
He pulled me in to his office.

"Jason," he started, "you can't volunteer here or be a part of this church any more because you're gay. It isn't the message we want to send the youth."

"But I've been raised in this church. I went to school here. I teach Sunday School."

"I'm sorry. You can't do that any more. That's all I have to say."

Years later, he emailed an apology.

I still don't visit that church.