April 12, 2006

Citing anti-gay stance, outspoken priest quits

LILLY (PA)
The Tribune-Democrat

By SUSAN EVANS
The Tribune-Democrat

LILLY — Even after a priest sexually abused him when he was in high school, John Nesbella of Lilly came back to the church.

And when Nesbella became a priest, and his strong stance against homosexuality in the priesthood drew venomous mail from his colleagues, he kept the faith.

But now, at age 43 and after being banned for the past year from publicly performing any priestly duties, the outspoken and controversial Cambria County priest is taking off his collar.

John Nesbella has resigned from the priesthood.

“This is the end of a sad tale of how wicked so-called Catholic priests and bishops drove me and a few other priests out because we dared to speak up about the corrupt brotherhood of homosexuals in the priesthood,” he said.

Posted by kshaw at April 12, 2006 08:07 AM