Catholic College Settles with Gay Priest

A gay priest and teacher at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia will not return to teach religion as an adjunct professor according to the terms of a settlement between him and the school.

The Philadelphia Inquirerreports on the settlement with the Reverend James St. George, a teacher at the college since 2009. He was not retained to teach this spring after the school learned of his public statements about being in a long-term relationship with a man.

"I'm glad it's over," said St. George, 45, pastor of St. Miriam Catholic Apostolic Church of Blue Bell. "I'm going back to my ministry and to take care of my parish."

"School officials said such statements defied the Catholic Church's teachings," reported the Inquirer. "He countered that the action was biased against gays."

St. George's parish is affiliated with the Old Catholic Apostolic Church, which is not recognized by the Vatican.

Terms of the settlement were not made public. A news conference with St. George and school officials scheduled for Monday morning was abruptly canceled.

According to the Inquirer, the move not to rehire St. George this spring infuriated some students at the Catholic college.