Catholic priest comes out against Proposition 8, comes out as gay to the world

A rather shocking and very powerful news story out of Fresno, California is making the rounds today: Father Geoffrey Farrow, a Catholic priest of over 20 years service to the Church, defies the instructions of the Bishops and urges his congregation to vote against Proposition 8, the initiative that would take the right to marry away from same-sex couples in the state.

In his homily, Farrow points out that "what most Catholics hear about being gay or lesbian in their parish Church is silence" and goes on to clearly defy the position of his elders, who are urging parishoners to vote for Proposition 8. "I know that thesewords will cost me dearly. But to not to speak them would rob gay and lesbian people not only of their civil rights, but of their human dignity as well."

But Farrow's defiance of the Church's stance was not his bravest move of the day. In an interview with the local ABC affiliate right before presiding over the mass, he came out as gay to the whole world, nothing that he feels it's a secondary issue to the topic at hand (after all, he is a priest and isn't going to run out and get married anyway). As he puts it, "In any event, regardless of what I or anyone else does in their life, one day you die. And on that day, were you true to your conscience, were you true to what you believe? And I think that's teh question each of us has to answer. And if the answer is no, hell already started before you died."

It's worth noting that the overall tone of the report is sympathetic to Farrow's situation, and while it offers opposing viewpoints, they're not nearly strong enough to match the power of his words and actions. His brave (and media-savvy) move isn't drawn as a scandal, it's presented as an act of revolution. Shame and silence have forced a stalemate between gays and lesbians and their faith communities for centuries, and it's men like Farrow who are brave enough to break that silence against crushing odds who are forcing the conversation on both sides.

To check out the full story and interview, head on over here.