Centenary of Pioneer Gay Priest John McNeill (1925-2015)

Fordham University honors centenary of pioneer priest John McNeill (1925-2015).

On October 6 at 6pm

“Pioneer of Catholic LGBTQ Ministry: The Legacy of John McNeill”.

At Fordham University, Lincoln Center – McNally Amphitheater 140 W.62^nd Street, NYC

Event is free and all are welcome RSVP : cacs@fordham.edu or Brendanfmfay@gmail.com

Screening of the award-winning documentary “Taking a Chance on God” is followed by a panel featuring:

Brendan Fay – film director

Mary E. Hunt PhD., Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual

Jason Steidl Jack, PhD., St Joseph’s University, New York.

Bryan N. Massingale, PhD., Professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University, Moderator.

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“An inspiring portrait of a pioneer gay priest, Taking a Chance on God follows the extraordinary life of 86-year-old John McNeill from his Buffalo boyhood through his experiences as a POW in Nazi Germany and speaking out against war with Fr. Dan Berrigan as Vietnam peace promoter.  A leading human rights rights advocate McNeill was author of groundbreaking works of gay spirituality, a founder of the LGBT Catholic group Dignity/New York. An  outspoken community leader during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s John McNeill refused to be silenced by the Vatican on LGBT issues. This resulted in his expulsion from the Jesuit priesthood. Chronicling McNeill’s love for the Catholic Church, the LGBT community, his Jesuit brothers, and his partner Charles Chiarelli, Taking a Chance on God is a powerful story of faith, love and perseverance in the face of oppression and rejection.”