Gay Rights Advocates Upset About Ex-Priest's Speaking Invitation
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Gay rights advocates are outraged that a Bronx Catholic school has invited a controversial retired priest to speak to parents this week.
Father Donald Timone advocates "praying away the gay." He will speak Tuesday at Cardinal Spellman High School.
Clinton Leupp, a drag queen better known as "Miss Coco Peru" and a graduate of the school, started an online campaign in opposition.
Gay Rights Advocates Upset About Ex-Priest's Speaking Invitation
"I started posting about it on Facebook and to my classmates from high school," he told 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten
Peter C. Frank, co-founder of the Bronx LGBTQ Center said he's requested a meeting with the church and the school to "begin talking about these issues that can present LGBTQ individuals in a more positive light."
"Father Timone is affiliated with an organization called Courage, which basically has stated that being gay or having same-sex attraction, as they put it, is an addiction that can be treated by methods similar to a 12-step program," Frank said.
The school said Timone will not address homosexuality Tuesday, only church doctrine.
The Roman Catholic Church has softened its stance against homosexuality. Pope Francis recently said it's not for him to judge if a gay person seeks the Lord.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
