John J. McNeill

John J. McNeill (1924 or 1925 – September 22, 2015) was an American Roman Catholic priest, psychotherapist and academic theologian, with a particular reputation within the field of queer theology.[1][2][3][4]

The Reverend Father

John J. McNeill

SJ
ChurchRoman Catholic
Orders
Ordination1959
by Francis Spellman
Personal details
Born(1925-09-02)September 2, 1925
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 22, 2015(2015-09-22) (aged 90)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
SpouseCharlie Chiarelli (m. 2008)

Life and academic career

Ordained by Cardinal Spellman through the Society of Jesus in 1959[5], he obtained a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium in 1964 and later taught at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, and at Fordham University in New York City. In 1972, he joined the combined Woodstock Jesuit Seminary and Union Theological Seminary faculty as professor of Christian ethics, specializing in sexual ethics. He died at a hospice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on September 22, 2015, at the age of 90.[6]

Support for gay rights

McNeill played a part in widening the activities of DignityUSA, a support group for LGBT Catholics.[5]

In 1976 he published The Church and the Homosexual.[5] In the obituary for McNeill, the New York Times described the book as "the first extended nonjudgmental work about gay Catholics, a subject that had long been taboo in official church discourse. It has been credited with helping to set in motion the re-evaluation of the religious stance toward gay people – not only among Catholics but also among those of other faiths – that continues today."[5]

According to Charles Curran, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith systematically attempted to silence authors critical of the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church concerning homosexuality, citing the "highlighting" of errors by the Congregation in McNeill's The Church and the Homosexual. McNeill was expelled from the Society of Jesus in 1987 at the request of the Vatican, but remained officially a priest.[5]

He was openly gay, and in 2008 he married Charlie Chiarelli, his long-term partner.[5]

McNeill was the subject of a 2011 documentary film, Taking a Chance on God, by director Brendan Fay.[5][7]

Published works
  • The Church and the Homosexual. Beacon Press. 1993. ISBN 978-0-8070-7931-7.</
  • Taking a Chance on God: Liberating Theology for Gays, Lesbians, and Their Lovers, Families, and Friends. Beacon Press. 1996. ISBN 978-0-8070-7945-4.
  • Freedom, Glorious Freedom: The Spiritual Journey to the Fullness of Life for Gays, Lesbians, and Everybody Else. Lethe Press. 1 December 2009. pp. 4–. ISBN 978-1-59021-148-9.
  • Both Feet Firmly Planted in Midair: My Spiritual Journey. Westminster John Knox Press. 1998. ISBN 978-0-664-25808-5.
  • Sex as God Intended, Lethe Press, 2008, ISBN 9781590210420

Honors
  • Grand Marshal of the New York City Gay Rights Parade in 1987
  • The National Human Rights Award in 1984 for his contributions to lesbian and gay rights
  • The 1989 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Blanton-Peale Institutes of Religion and Health
  • The Humanitarian Award in 1990 from the Association of Lesbian and Gay Psychologists
  • The 1993 Distinguished Contribution Award of the Eastern Region American Association of Pastoral Counselors for outstanding contribution to pastoral counseling
  • The United Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches Special Award for his "dedicated work in spreading the Gospel to the lesbian/gay community"
  • The 1997 Dignity/USA Prophetic Service Award "In Recognition of over 25 years of extraordinary work on behalf of the Catholic Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community"
  • The 1999 Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco "Living Saint" Award
  • The 2005 "Roger Casement and Eva Gore Booth leadership Award" presented by the New York Irish LGBT group Lavender and Green Alliance

See also
  • Homosexuality and Roman Catholicism

References
  1. Briggs, Kenneth A. (September 2, 1977). "Vatican Silences Priest Who Urged Church Ease View". The New Yorks Times. p. 34. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  2. "John McNeill : Priest Who Pushed Catholic Church to Welcome Gays Dies at 90". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  3. "The Rev. John J. McNeill, Jesuit priest who became famed LGBT activist, dies at 90". Miamiherald. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  4. "Catholics Lose Pioneer Gay Leader: Will Pope Francis Express Grief for Fellow Jesuit?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  5. Fox, Margalit (25 September 2015). "Priest who pushed Catholic Church to welcome gays, dies at 90". New York Times.
  6. "'Patron saint' of LGBT Catholics, John J. McNeill, 90, dies". Ncronline.org. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  7. Manson, Jamie (June 18, 2012). "New documentary depicts Jesuit's struggle for LGBT rights". National Catholic Reporter.
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