Gay Priest’s Journey Is the Story of Many Catholic LGBTQ+ Lives

Bradley Leger

Today’s post, a review of the book : Why I Remain a Gay Catholic: A Spiritual-Sexual Journey by Paul F. Morrissey, OSA (Paulist Press, 2025), is from guest contributor Bradley A. Leger, an educator and spiritual director from the New Orleans, Louisiana metro area.

I first met Augustinian priest Fr. Paul Morrissey, in 2016 when he was the presenter for a retreat weekend for LGBTQ+ persons, family members, and allies sponsored by the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative LGBTQ+ Initiative (to which I belong). As a member of the planning team for this first retreat we were organizing, it was a great joy and privilege to work very closely with him in all stages of the program’s development.At the time, Paul  had recently published a powerful novel, The Black Wall of Silence, in which he skillfully and honestly addressed serious issues facing the church along with the internal and external struggles of the protagonist, a gay priest.

His retreat presentation certainly did not disappoint. He deftly communicated that we all are indeed a gift of God to the church–and in the process, he showed that, without a doubt, he is a gift to the entire world.

Neither has he disappointed with his latest book, his autobiography, Why I Remain a Gay Catholic: A Spiritual-Sexual Journey. It was a fitting pairing with his previous book. The foreword of the new book was written by Sister Jeannine Gramick, SL, New Ways Ministry’s Co-Founder, who is a longtime friend of Fr. Paul.

I am so grateful for his efforts in producing this beautiful piece of writing. Although I had gotten to know some of his story since we first met, this book – a true page turner – provided a wonderful privilege for me to gain greater insights into his life. Great clues can be found within the titles of each chapter, which include, “A College Crush,” “You Should be a Priest,” “Finding My Voice,” “A Secret Between Me and God,” “Coming Out to Family,” “We Are the Church,” and “The Vocation of LGBTQ+ People.”

I deeply appreciated his great candor, vulnerability, courage, and humor as he skillfully weaved the narrative of his life’s journey. Although we have our own unique stories, I can see great parallels between his and mine. I also come from a large Catholic family (I am one of eight children). While he is of Irish descent, I am of Acadian (“Cajun”) ancestry – descendants of the French people exiled from present-day Nova Scotia by the British in the 1750’s – with most of us eventually settling in south Louisiana. 

Catholicism within the Acadians, as with the Catholic Irish, has been deeply ingrained within our DNA. Like Morrissey, I had my own journey of self-discovery over the years as I eventually embraced my authentic self. If I would ever pen my own autobiography, the names of several of his chapters would be a great guide for the ones in mine.

I was also struck by the book’s sub-title: “A Spiritual and Sexual Journey.” As a gay man who is also a spiritual director, I realize that the path to embracing our true selves as we have been created by a loving Creator – the path to wholeness, integration, and holiness – is indeed a spiritual one. As James Empereur, S.J., so beautifully states in his book, Spiritual Direction and the Gay Person, “Without sexual integration one cannot be a fully functioning person . . . [and] only a fully functioning person can be spiritually developed.” 

This insight also helps me to recall the wise words of my great friend and mentor (and fellow Acadian), Sr. Luisa Derouen, OP., a spiritual director and advocate with the transgender community and their loved ones for many years. She informs us that transitioning is a spiritual journey, and that transgender people have much to teach us about living with integrity. The same certainly applies to all members of the queer community.

During these turbulent times, we need prophetic voices such as Fr. Morrissey’s who unabashedly tell us their stories. Such deliberate acts not only challenge church and society to grow and evolve concerning issues around sexuality and gender identity, but also help others within the LGBTQ+ community – whatever their faith tradition/spirituality – to find their own voices and to live their lives authentically. His book is a treasure to be cherished, and it gives me hope, strength, and courage. I am so proud and blessed that I can count him as a comrade and teacher. I hope that his life-giving ministry will continue for many years to come.

–-Bradley Leger, January 15, 2025