Father John McNeill, renowned author and Catholic gay leader, died September 22, 2015, with his partner of 45 years, Charlie Chiarelli, at his bedside.
It does not feel like an accident that Father McNeill died this week during the first visit of Pope Francis to the United States. Of Father McNeil's 90 years, four decades were dedicated to being a Jesuit priest in the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis is also a Jesuit.
The Jesuits are renowned for their scholarly rigor and compassionate leadership. It was this scholarly and compassionate approach that shone forth when Father McNeill published The Church and the Homosexual, in 1976. He gave hope and healing to a generation of LGBTQ Catholics who struggled to reconcile faith and sexuality.
It is amazing how much hope Pope Francis gave to the LGBTQ world when he simply asked, "Who am I to judge?" Today, the Pope could say to LGBTQ Roman Catholics, and to those who knew and loved Father McNeill, "I grieve with you."
John McNeill fought the good fight and never gave up. Ordained a Jesuit priest in 1959, he began to minister to gay and lesbian Catholics in the 1970s and helped birth DignityUSA. His book, The Church and the Homosexual, gave the movement great hope. A year later, the Vatican silenced him, and in 1998, after forty years as a Jesuit priest, he was drummed out of his beloved community.
Despite this persecution, he remained steadfast and clear in his faith. He was a joyous lover, friend, and compassionate teacher and counselor.
I came to know John through his book and through his attendance at Sunshine Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church where John and his beloved Charlie Chiarelli attended for the last decade. Father McNeill was the most gentle and pastoral of prophets. Besides the God who created him, he loved Charlie most of all. Their profound witness changed the church and the world.
John was personally encouraging to me as both a pastor and moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches. Like many Roman Catholics and the faithful from all denominations, MCC became home for John and Charlie--the place that will not turn you away. He had a profound ecumenical spirit and gave his all to our movement.
When I first heard the news that John was in hospice care, I remembered that it took 350 Years for the Vatican to admit Galileo was right, the Earth does orbit the Sun. Will it take 350 years for the Vatican to admit Father John McNeill was right, that God loves LGBTQ people? I hope not.
We lost a great leader this week, when Father John McNeil went to God, but we had him for a lifetime, and his life made a difference. He will never be forgotten.