Pro-LGBT priest should be reappointed to N.J. school, petition says

By Erin O'neill
NJ.com
May 17, 2015

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/05/pro-lgbt_priest_should_be_reappointed_by_nj_school_petition_says.html

Rev. Warren Hall claimed last week that he was fired as director of campus ministry at Seton Hall University over a pro-LGBT social media post. Here, Hall leads a special mass for couples renewing their vows on Valentine’s Day 2014 at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on the university's South Orange campus.

SOUTH ORANGE — An online petition launched by students at Seton Hall University calls for reinstating a priest who said he was fired as director of campus ministry over his support for the "No H8" campaign.

More than 2,200 people had signed the petition posted on Change.org as of Sunday afternoon. A Twitter hashtag was also created to support Rev. Warren Hall: #WeWantFatherHall.

Hall posted on Twitter on Friday afternoon that he was "fired from SHU for posting a pic on FB supporting LGBT 'NO H8.' I'm sorry it was met with this response. I'll miss my work here." The "No H8" campaign started in 2008 after California voters approved a measure to ban same-sex marriage.

Seton Hall University repeatedly responded to angry comments on Twitter, saying that the Hall's position is managed by the Archdiocese of Newark.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark would not go into specifics about why Hall was removed from the position in an interview with NJ Advance Media on Friday but said that Hall's "term as director of campus ministry is ending."

The spokesman, Jim Goodness, said Hall will be shifted to a new assignment.The student-led petition says: "The Archdiocese of Newark's decision to fire Father Warren Hall from Seton Hall University is in line with neither the teachings of Jesus Christ, nor the words of Pope Francis. I urge you to reinstate Father Hall to his position at Seton Hall University, where he contributed greatly to the academic and spiritual lives of the students."