Gay Priest Barred From Volunteer Mission

Catholic Relief Services has told a priest in the Syracuse, N.Y., diocese that he cannot volunteer through one of its programs in southern Africa because he is gay, reports The Post-Standard.

The decision involves the Rev. Fred Daley, 58, who told his parish in Utica in May 2004 about his sexual orientation, and criticized the Vatican document that was interpreted last year as banning gay men from the priesthood.

Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Costello of Syracuse told the newspaper that he was disappointed in Catholic Relief Services’ decision to withdraw its offer to Father Daley to serve as a volunteer.

Catholic Relief Services, the charity arm of the Catholic Church in the United States, did not comment.