Priest suspended after supporting Paramus Catholic coach fired over same-sex marriage

[rug]

By ABBOTT KOLOFF
STAFF WRITER |
The Record
September 1, 2016, 9:31 PM
Last updated: Thursday, September 1, 2016, 9:51 PM

A North Jersey priest who announced last year that he was gay has been suspended by the Newark archbishop, a move that came after he expressed support for a former Paramus Catholic High School guidance counselor who was fired for being in a same-sex marriage.

The Rev. Warren Hall, a former Seton Hall chaplain who was working at a Hoboken church, was told of the decision on Wednesday, James Goodness, a spokesman for Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, said on Thursday.

Goodness, who said Hall was “not allowed to function as a priest in any way,” declined to provide the specific reasons for the suspension, but said all priests “promise reverence and obedience” to their bishops and also to support the “teachings and norms of the church.”

Hall told the Religion News Service, which broke the news on Thursday, that a church official had told him that he was being suspended for taking stands in favor of gay support groups and expressions of support for a former guidance counselor and basketball coach who is suing Paramus Catholic and the Newark Archdiocese after being fired earlier this year.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/priest-suspended-after-supporting-paramus-catholic-coach-fired-over-same-sex-marriage-1.1653658

[rpannier]

1. In the early 90's I was living in Sacramento

I went to St Francis Church there
Tuesday Night was a divorced Catholics night and Thursday was Gay and Lesbian Catholic support group
Father Barry was our priest
Sundays were always packed.
I moved in 94 just after he left

THe Newark Archbishop came out of Peoria and he was rated by one of the Catholic papers as the first or second most conservative bishop at the time
I see he hasn't changed

Church needs more Father Barrys

[rug]

2. That wouldn't be a Franciscan church, would it?

[rpannier]

3. Yes it would

But it was administered by the Diocese in Sacramento
The Bishop requested Father Barry from a diocese in the San Jose area where the Bishop was not overly fond of Father Barry
The Bishop in Sacto felt he'd be a good fit there (St Francis Church was mostly young families and students from Sac State)
And Father Barry was a Franciscan

[rug]

4. I hope that soon these parishes will be the norm and not oases.