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	McKinney Priest Resigns Amid Questions of Sexuality By Steve Stoler WFAA May 14, 2008 http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa080513_mo_priestresigns.fa88dce5.html [with video] MCKINNEY - A priest in the Diocese of Dallas has resigned from his parish just two weeks after taking the pulpit, and it stems from questions that have arisen about his sexuality. The Diocese of Dallas said Father Arthur Mallison has done nothing that violates church policy, but e-mails have circulated about a picture of the priest that appeared on a website set up as a support site for homosexual clergy. The site is called St. Sebastian's Angels and was created in 1999. "There was a faction in the parish that had started a nationwide campaign to put pressure on Father," said Annette Gonzales-Taylor, a Diocese of Dallas spokesperson. Mallison was assigned to St. Michael's in McKinney just weeks ago. Some members discovered the website and started writing about it on blogs in Illinois and Georgia The diocese said the pressure on the priest was too much. "He was trying to spare all of the parties pain, disappointment or embarrassment," Gonzales-Taylor said. The Vatican issued an edict in November of 2005 clarifying the church's position on gay clergy. The Pope said priests should be celibate regardless of their orientation. "They don't want sexually active homosexual priests," Gonazales-Taylor said. "All of our priests are expected to remain celibate and live a celibate lifestyle." The diocese said even though Mallison didn't violate church policy, he resigned because he didn't want misinformation and perception to hurt the parish nor the diocese. Mallison was a priest at St. Francis of Assisi in Lancaster for 10 years before moving to McKinney. The diocese said he could be assigned to another Dallas area parish. E-mail: sstoler@wfaa.com
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