Gay priest John J. McNeill wrote the book ‘The Church and the Homosexual’ back in 1976.
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By SHERI ELFMAN
Friday, May 18, 2007
Religion and homosexuality have always been a controversial combination. As touchy as the topic is today, it was almost taboo 30 years ago. But that didn’t stop John J. McNeill from writing the book “The Church and the Homosexual” back in 1976.
McNeill, a gay psychotherapist, theologian, teacher, scholar and ordained Catholic priest, has been a groundbreaker when it comes to the gay community and religion. The Hollywood, Fla. resident will speak at Stonewall Library & Archives on May 24.
After fighting in World War II, McNeill went to school and entered the Society of Jesus, a Jesuit order, in 1948. He then undertook a ministry of gay and lesbian Catholics. He became an ordained priest in 1959. McNeill then went on to earn his doctorate in philosophy in 1964.
McNeill started to write a series of articles on religion for his church newsletter. In 1976, they were compiled and published as the book “The Church and the Homosexual.”
“It was the first book by a theologian to challenge religion,” McNeill says. “It was the first book to call gay love good and holy.”
The book has gone on to get published in five languages.
As expected, the book stirred up trouble in the religious community. A year after the book was published, McNeill received an order from the Vatican’s “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith” under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who is now Pope Benedict XVI. The church wanted McNeill to be silent in the media.
“I observed [the order] for nine years,” he explains. “I was hoping the church would change its mind.”
Privately, he still provided ministry to gays and lesbians and led workshops and retreats.
In 1988, he received another order from Cardinal Ratzinger. This one told him to give up all ministry to the gay and lesbian community.
McNeill refused.
“They pushed me,” he says.
He would not back down and observe the order.
“I knew God was using me to speak to others,” he says.
The Vatican then expelled McNeill from the Society of Jesus. The reason given was that he was challenging the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church on the issue of homosexuality and refusing to give up his ministry and psychotherapy practice to gay men and lesbians.
In addition to touring the country and speaking out on his first book, McNeill also co-founded the New York chapter of Dignity, the organization for gay, lesbian and transgender Catholics. That group, in turn, helped start the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.
He also kept busy writing his next two books, “Taking a Chance on God: Liberating Theology for Gays, Lesbians, Their Lovers, Friends and Families” and “Freedom, Glorious Freedom: The Spiritual Journey to the Fullness of Life for Gays, Lesbians and Everybody Else.”
The New York native moved to Hollywood, Fla., nine years ago with his partner of 41 years, Charles Chiarelli. The couple attend church together every week at the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale.
The 81-year-old has not slowed down at all. He has been working on his latest book, “Sex as God Intended It.” It will be available in July.
“It’s about human sexuality,” McNeill says. “It’s about how God intended humans to use sexuality as play.”
He was recently honored by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force at Winter Party. He received a lifetime achievement award that stated, “Bringing the understanding to the world that to be gay is a gift from God.”
Currently, he is also producing a documentary on his life and work called “Uncommon Jesuit.” McNeill plans on showing a trailer of the film at Stonewall Library when he goes there to speak next week.
He continues to lead sermons and will lead his next at Dignity’s international meeting in Texas in July.
“God has used me as an instrument for all GLBT people,” he says. “God loves them as they are.”
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