Catholic Vatican Priest, Monsignor Charamsa Dismissed After Coming Out as Gay (Photos)

The Catholic Church on Saturday fired a high-ranking Vatican official after he revealed to an Italian newspaper that he was gay and has a male partner.

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The Vatican has dismissed a priest from his post in a Holy See office after he told a newspaper he was gay and urged the Catholic Church to change its stance on homosexuality. 

 

Monsignor Krzystof Olaf Charamsa was removed from his position at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal arm, where he had worked since 2003, a statement said.

 

The Polish priest who served with the Vatican's doctrinal arm, will no longer be able to carry out his duties after announcing he is gay on the eve of a major church meeting, a Vatican spokesman said.

 

With his partner at his side, Monsignor Charamsa held a news conference on Saturday in Rome, calling on Pope Francis to revise Catholic doctrine on homosexuality, which considers same-sex relationships sinful.

 

 

The 43-year old said the timing of the announcement was intended to put the topic before the Synod of Bishops. The three-week assembly of bishops from around the world beginning Sunday will address issues facing Catholic families.

 

"My decision of 'coming out' is a very personal decision in the homophobic world of the Catholic Church. It has been very difficult and very hard. I ask that you keep in mind this reality that is difficult to understand for anyone who has not lived through an identical passage in their own life," Charamsa told reporters.

 

The timing is not intended to pressurize anyone, but maybe a good pressure, in fact a Christian participation, a Christian voice that wants to bring to the synod the response of the homosexual believers to the questioning of Pope Francis."

 

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Charamsa called the 48 hours since coming out as a gay man "the second day when I feel freedom, peace and happiness for being near the will of God for my life."

His path, he said, was one of understanding his orientation, his nature and to reflect about. "Now I can say I am a happy priest. Now I am transparent," he said.

 

His sexual orientation was given to him by God, Charamsa said, who called it a project from God to him to understand and to share his reflection with others.

 

"My decision of coming out is my gift as a gay priest for others," he said. 

 

The Vatican said Monsignor Charamsa's dismissal had nothing to do with his comments on his personal situation, which it said "merit respect". But it said giving the newspaper interview and planning a demonstration was "grave and irresponsible" given their timing on the eve of a synod of bishops who will discuss family issues, including how to reach out to gays.