Over 25 supporters rallied at Stevens Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21, to show support for Father Warren Hall. At the end of August, he was suspended from Sts. Peter and Paul Church on the corner of Fourth and Hudson streets by Archbishop of Newark John Myers for “confusing parishioners,” according to Hall. According to Hall, he was dismissed for supporting gay rights and for supporting Kate Drumgoole, a Paramus Catholic High School faculty member fired for being in a same-sex marriage.
At the time of his suspension, a spokesman for the Newark archdiocese, James Goodness, said: “Every Catholic priest promises to be reverent and obedient to his bishop. A priest’s actions and statements always must be consistent with the discipline, norms, and teachings of the Catholic Church. When they are ordained, priests agree to accept the bishop’s judgment about assignments and involvement in ministry.”
Hall cited what he believes parishioners view this as church hypocrisy because the church accepts divorced parishioners and parishioners who are living together before marriage, but not LGBTQ people.
“I don’t believe I said or did anything that is against Catholic teaching.” – Father Warren Hall
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He said that archbishops can work somewhat independently in their diocese, so some fully embrace Pope Francis and his more moderate teachings, while others, like Myers, are more conservative.
Despite his suspension, Hall said he urges people to remain in the church, as he believes change will happen.
“I know we aren’t there yet, and this goes back to the slowness, but we are going to be there because many parishes are welcoming of LGBT people,” said Hall. “I don’t believe I said or did anything that is against Catholic teaching.”
He added, “We still have a way to go with acceptance. I don’t want this to be bashing the church. The Archbishop is acting out of what he thinks is right so there is no attacking him.”
Change coming too slow
Community, spiritual, and government leaders spoke at the rally.
Reverend Rose Beeson, from St. Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church on Ninth and Washington streets and one of the spiritual leaders at the event, said she is saddened by Hall’s removal, especially in the light of the more moderate Pope Francis.
She believes change will come, citing her own church’s changes in 2009 in accepting LGBTQ people.
“Churches do change, society is changing, and we will keep pushing for it,” said Beeson. “I’ve had a couple of dear friends of mine who are gay men, one of whom was living with AIDS, and he always said in the Lutheran church he never thought it would change in his lifetime and our policy changed in 2009. He died a couple years later. I think change is possible. Many have shown it is possible, and I think that the Catholic Church is making good progress.”
Too slow
Hall said he believes reform is coming too slow, especially when Pope Francis has reached out to those previously marginalized by the church.
One of the rally’s organizers, Laura Knittel, questioned the archbishop’s actions, wondering why and how the bishop could dismiss a man and follower of God who has served the church faithfully for 27 years.
Parishioner Lenore Vanden Handel said it was unfortunate that the archdiocese is not being more inclusive and that she was sorry this happened.
Hall said that he does not have a plan for what he will do next if he ultimately leaves Sts. Peter and Paul’s Church and that he does not intend to fight the suspension.
He said that when Myers fired him as chaplain of Seton Hall University last year, he had written letters to the pope, “but had never heard back.”
Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.