Vatican Priest Comes Out, Promptly Fired

A high-raking Polish priest who worked at the Vatican was fired after coming out in an Italian newspaper, BuzzFeed reports.

Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa told Corriere della Sera he was gay and in a relationship with a man, adding that he wants the Church to know "he's happy and proud of his identity." He also said he was prepared to face the consequences of his decision.

The Catholic Church, under fire lately for a disputed meeting between the Pope and antigay firebrand Kim Davis, wasn't exactly proud itself; officials fired Charamsa on Saturday. Bishops are set to gather on Sunday to discuss the Church's stance on family matters, which will likely include its hard-line stances on gay families.

Vatican press officer Frederico Lombardi released the following statement:

"(T)he decision [by Charamsa] to make such a pointed statement on the eve of the opening of the Synod appears very serious and irresponsible, since it aims to subject the Synod assembly to undue media pressure... will certainly be unable to continue to carry out his previous work in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical universities, while the other aspects of his situation shall remain the competence of his diocesan Ordinary."

According to the Vatican, Charamsa has been living in Rome for 17 years and has worked at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 2003. He also serves as assistant secretary of the International Theological Commission and teaches theology at two of Rome's Pontifical universities.