Catholic Priest Openly Declares Gay Status, Gets Fired

A Polish Catholic Priest, Krzysztof Charamsa on Saturday openly declared his gay status and got fired for his "pointed" and public coming out, the church said. he granted an interview with a Polish Newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcz and openly said he is gay, "I have to say who I am. I am a gay priest. I am a happy and proud gay priest."

He worked for the church's doctrinal arm, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, since 2003, according to Reuters. Charamsa initially planned a news conference at the Vatican, alongside his boyfriend, Edouard, but relocated it to Rome following his firing.

"This decision of mine to come out was a very personal one taken in a Catholic Church that is homophobic and very difficult and harsh towards gays," he said at the news conference, according to multiple reports. "I ask the pope to be strong and to remember us, homosexuals, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals as children of the Church and members of humanity," he continued. However, the church said the details of Charisma's personal life "merit respect". Charisma has not been defrocked by the church and is still a priest, though Lombardi's statement suggested that may change.