A Colorado group is reportedly spending millions to out gay priests.
The Denver-based nonprofit Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal nonprofit says it is “dedicated to offering resources to Church leaders so they can better care for their priests and faithful” – a mission which apparently translates to tracking the private online habits of priests.
Now they have the power to out these men publicly, or potentially ruin their careers.
Many have compared this campaign to a witch hunt, as priests could find themselves on trial in the church over legal behavior that occurred outside of work.
However, Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal argues that they’re just trying to improve local churches by holding priests accountable.
Have You Been Swiping, Father?
The group’s aim is “to love the Church and to help the Church to be holy, with every tool she could be given,” according to president Jayd Henricks.
That apparently means spending around $4 million purchasing app usage and location data from a variety of gay dating apps from 2018 to 2021.
The Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal group allegedly bought highly specific user data from these apps and cross-referenced it with location data of local seminaries to find clergy members using the apps.
They not only purchased data from Grindr – the most popular gay dating app worldwide – but also lesser known gay dating apps like Scruff, Jack’d, and Growlr. They say they’ve pinpointed clergy members who actively used these apps to seek out gay relationships, or at least "window-shopped".
After all, it would be highly unlikely a straight, celibate priest would have Grindr on his phone and open it regularly; it’s not exactly one of the apps that comes preinstalled on the new iPhone.
All of these apps say they’ve stopped sharing location data with potential advertisers, but for now the Catholic group has a likely cache of gay priests they can out at any moment.
Gay Priests Beware
You might be wondering: wait, is this legal? The answer appears to be yes.
That's because there are virtually zero privacy protection laws when it comes to app usage and location data.
Apps themselves can restrict who they sell data to, but buying and selling such data is incredibly common in the world of online marketing.
It’s not just companies or agencies doing this, either. Individuals with enough money can legally purchase targeted app data in these online exchanges with ease.
Invasion of Privacy?
This is hardly the group’s first rodeo.
The Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal was reportedly responsible for the 2021 outing of Catholic priest Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, who resigned a high ranking position after it was revealed that he was a regular on apps like Grindr and had visited a gay bar.
That actually made international news, and while debate raged on whether a gay clergyman should remain in the church or not, pretty much everyone agreed his privacy had been violated.
Still, no changes were made legally restricting the purchasing of app and geolocation data from apps, so for now it’s up to the companies that own these apps to police themselves.
Many say that outing these men is incredibly dangerous for them, but the group argues they’re just holding priests accountable to uphold Catholic principles and the vows they took.
“It’s not about straight or gay priests and seminarians,” says Henricks. “It’s about behavior that harms everyone involved, at some level and in some way, and is a witness against the ministry of the Church.”
What is your take? Is this an honest effort to hold clergy members accountable, or a witch hunt targeting gay priests?
67 comments
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Bobbie Ramer
As an openly Gay man, it is MY story to tell. Each of us is responsible for OUR own story and no one else's. Bobbie Ramer
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Rev. Kev
Pretty sure the official position of the church on being homosexual is that it's not a crime. It's not a sin unless one actually engages in the act. So the only thing these nosey people with too much time and money on their hands have is someone looking around. Unless this group actually catches someone in flagrante delicto doing the naughty or breaking the law, they have nothing actionable.
All that aside, one would think homosexual men who feel a special calling from God to serve would find a more open, accepting church through which to engage in a ministry. There are even more liberal catholic churches if they want to stick with a sacramental faith. The RCC isn't the only game in town.
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Pastor Jody S.
It's not a sin per the Catechism of the Catholic Church, unless there is knowledge that it is a sin, deliberate intention to act, and then acting on it. Otherwise it's just temptation, which all of us are subjected to daily.
No matter what the "Troll Kingdom" may think.
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Dr. James W. Dingman, PhD
I concur with Jody
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Donald John Reynolds
As a gay man whose had my life turned upside down by being ousted, I want to say you have no right to persecut a man because of his sexual preference. I was outed by my coworker at a grocery store and I lost my job because of it. The financial repercussions were staggering and I basically had to move to a different state and start over. All because he thought it would "be better to be honest about those things" you have no right to put someone in peril like that. You have no idea of the haters that are out there. Those without sin cast the first stone.. what skeletons do u have in your closet?? Keep it to yourself and mind your own business
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Rev. B
Donald, I am very sorry to hear about your situation with the co-worker. I can only imagine you were in or near the bible belt for it to have such far-reaching consequences. I hope your new home is more open-minded and you are finally able to relax and be yourself.
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Sharrell Ronald Taylor
I call it a witch hunt. Definitely infringement on their privacy. It’s not right
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
They are breaking their vows to celibacy being active or even thinking about it. Time to defrost them. When you become a priest yoyr privacy goes out the window with the baptismal water. It is an infringement on the Church and clergy.
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Bernie James Rocheleau
Beyond all that, why is a group like Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal allowed to be a non-profit? Apparently they have to unload about $4 million to zero out the books.
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Melaine Rae Thompson
If they were truly just wanting to uphold the celibacy vow, then they would be monitoring all dating/hook-up sites, not just the ones favored by gay men. I feel that if they really wanted to do something good in the world, they would be monitor sites catering to pedophiles and supporting human trafficking.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Good get rid of the active pediphiles. They don't believe as fellow clergy.
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Rev. Kev
The article is about homosexuals. Not pedophiles. They aren't the same thing.
Just sayin'
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Some Christians just don't know the difference.
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Rev Ned
Some “Christians” aren’t “Christians”.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Rev Ned What do you mean Some “Christians” aren’t “Christians”. Then what are they? They say they are Christians.
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Sean Nettles
Every twelve Apples has at least one rotten Apple or more No one is perfect God loves all
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Lionheart
Is God real then, and which one is it?
🦁♥️
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Drusilla Bhatti
We have capital G for God Almighty, but with a small g for god of this world, with small f for father of lies. Yes, both are real, one with a small g, who comes to steal, kill and destroy, But with the capital G for God Almighty, who is the true one, who is the healer and giver of life, I have had been encountered by both and had a choice, who I want to serve. Yeah! True God Almighty is the one for me!
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Lionheart
What logic did you apply to the god that you believe in, Drusilla, that has led you to believe that you are worshiping a real god? I guess it's just a "belief"...right, using similar faith that others are using to believe that their god(s) is/are the real one?
🦁♥️
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Cheryl Pettijohn
It is not ok for private citizens to be "outed". It is not ok to out the family members of politicians, they are still private citizens. It is ok to out politicians when their lifestyle is at odds with their professed beliefs.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Outing someone is unconscionable. It’s no one’s business. I say this as a cisgender woman with a transgender daughter. It is her story to tell not mine. I always ask if it’s ok for me to mention it to people. I wait for her consent.
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Tim Cranford
Speaking as an out gay man, outing someone else is NEVER OK. I still remember, over 40 years later, the agony I felt when deciding whether or not to come out. I'm personally glad I chose to do so, but it was MY decision to make. Coming out takes strength, confidence, a strong desire to live your truth, and mental and emotional fortitude. It is a decision that can not (and should not) be made for you, rather, you must make it for yourself.
Even now, when being gay is more accepted than it once was and there are more legal protections than ever before, members of the LGBTQ+ community still face discrimination in housing and employment in many communities. Being out can result in being shunned by family and friends, and in many communities, it can also result in threats, harassment, and even physical violence. To out someone is to potentially expose them to all the above, to take away their own control of their life, to violate their privacy, and to completely disrupt their sense of safety. More concisely stated, it can be devastating and it is never done in the best interest of the person in question. I find the real motives of this Colorado group suspicious, especially in the current environment where the LGBTQ+ community is being targeted by harmful rhetoric, false narratives, and anti-gay legislation. I sense real malice behind this effort.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Good. Get the active ones out of the priesthood. They are breaking their vows and committing sin when seeking it.
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Robert James Ruhnke
So long as it’s with other adults, it doesn’t matter. Vows of chastity are a waste of energy. The only sinner here is you, and your hateful rhetoric.
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Rev. MichaelRS
I agree with the group. If you become a Catholic priest and take those vows there are certain expectations the church has of you. You should fulfill those.
And it does not matter if the activity is "legal outside of work", when you are a priest you are "on duty" 24/7.
This is a little different than an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi secretly enjoying a ham sandwich everyday for lunch b or a Protestant Minister who is married having an affair on the side. That's all legal under man's law.
In this particular case if you cannot hang with NOT hooking up with other men then resign and become a pastor for the Metropolitan Community Church.
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David Arthur Lewis
John 8:7
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David Arthur Lewis
Roman Catholics do not believe in the Bible.
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Rev. Kev
I wonder where you got the idea that Roman Catholics don't believe in the Bible? They read from the Bible at every service. They base their beliefs on the Bible. The catechism even cites scripture as the basis for much of what they do and believe. I have never, ever come across a Catholic who says they don't believe in the Bible.
I'm not Roman Catholic. I'm not a defender of their faith. But I took the time to study it so I know a little bit about it. Can't think of a single Catholic theologian that dismisses the Bible or says they don't believe in it.
Are there some awful people in the RCC? Sure. Are there maybe some who just go through the motions? Probably. But that's a different thing from saying no Catholic believes in the Bible. And if having some rotten apples in the barrel means no one believes, then we can safely say no Christian in ANY church believes.
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David Arthur Lewis
OK Kev, so you admit that you have zero first-hand knowledge of Roman Catholicism. I actually do, having been baptized, raised, and confirmed in the church, and having endured eight years of Catholic school and four years of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, courtesy of the Sisters of No Mercy. I am a recovering Catholic.
I can guarantee you that you will not find a copy of the Bible in any Roman church in America. They use a book called the Daily Missal, which contains a brief, carefully selected, out-of-context reading from one of the Gospels and one of the Epistles or Acts for each day. I know this because, as a young man preparing for the seminary, I was the one who did the readings in our parish. They do not read the actual bible during Mass or any other liturgy. In fact, only ordained priests are authorized to read the Gospel in public. No Catholic is ever encouraged to actually read the bible. If they did, the priests and bishops would "have some 'splainin' to do".
No, they will not admit it, but this is the truth. Their scripture is always open to interpretation by the 'infallible' Pope of Rome.
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Velma M Mosley
I am not sure where you are from. I know that if all you say is true then that was not a true roman catholic church.. The daily missal you mention is so people can follow the reading that come from the BIBLE. There are Bibles in our church, in the preist office in the convent. The people who go through RCIA (do you know what that is?) are given a Bible when they start. All teaching is from the Bible. No one can know what is going on in a Preist thoughts when they are on these sights, maybe they are looking to see if someone in the congregation is on these sites. Preist are also human they are not perfect. Perhaps they want to minster to these people. This to me is an invasion of privacy. Perhaps we should check into your sites on the internet. What would we find? God bless you and may the Holy Spirit come upon you.
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Velma M Mosley
I do not know where you are from but it does not sound like a true Roman Catholic Church. It sounds more like a cult. There are Bibles in our church, in the preist office, the convent we have a convent along with church and our class rooms. The daily missal you speak of is completely from the Bible. Those going through RCIA (do you know what that is?) are given a bible the first class. American Standard Bible. Being homosexual is not a sin, it is a sin if you act on it. We are ALL human. The only perfect one died on the cross for our salvation. Which is taught in the RCC. God Bless You. May the Holy Spirit come unto you.
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Susan Christine Giganti
David is correct here. The Missal is used, in Catholic Churches , not a Bible. I grew up in the Catholic Church and went to Catholic schools. I left the Catholic Church year ago.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Neither do most Christians.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Catholics ARE Christians!
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Patricia Ann Gross What makes a religion a Christian religion? Are Mormons and Muslims?
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Get your torch lit, there's going to be some burnings at the stake.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Anyone seen this? Churches are so desperate for money they are placing ads on the buildings for mobile phones. New trend?
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David Cox
That's the dumbest thing I ever heard...some Christians don't believe in the bible...wow...Christian means followers of Christ and the whole Bible talks about Jesus Christ.
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David A Griffith
David-
The whole Bible is not about Jesus Christ, only the New Testament. The Old Testament may have reference to the coming of the Messiah, but it is not about Jesus Christ.
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David Cox
A true Christian will follow the bible and his or her fruit will show you that they are. Do you know what the fruit of the spirit is? I am not catholic and I think it's wrong for them to force people not to marry. No where in the bible does it say that.
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skye riversong
Nobody is forced not to marry because nobody is forced into the priesthood or the religious life. You're called to it, or not, and no one just up and decides this on impulse. Priests have years in the seminary, I mean years, prior to ordination in which to think through what this vocation will mean and whether they can do it for the long haul. They can back out at any time along the way. Even after ordination, if they find that they made a dreadful mistake, they can ask to be released from their vows and leave the priesthood, and be free to marry lime regular folks. In contrast, lay people who marry are bloody well stuck. The church does not recognize divorce. Even if you get a civil divorce, that just means your banks accounts split up, in the eyes of the church you're still tied to this person who may have turned out to be a sociopath. You don't get to date anyone else. So yeah, the priesthood isn't easy but they still have more options than lay folks who are required to marry but only get one shot at making the right choice.
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David Cox
Peter was married and catholic claim he is the first pope
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Annulment is an option. My cousin made use of it as did one of my uncles.
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Susan Christine Giganti
Do you know how much it costs to get an annulment? About $700 dollars in the early 2000s. The proof you have to provide seems simple, except they demand witnesses. The witnesses must travel to the priests taking down the info, it’s ridiculous. They won’t take the word of either spouse. So if one side has deceased family members, it won’t go through.
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Sean Nettles
I would only suggest that people pray for them God forgives everyone for there sins no man or woman is without sin
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Sin is something made up As are gods, satan, heaven, and hell.
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ServantOfJudgement
Is evil a fabrication? Is good? Is it evil or good to torture an animal? Taking food from an old starving woman, is it good or evil? If these are either evil or good, there is a source of the instinctual knowledge of good and evil that you possess. Sin is evil, good is not sinful. Turn to Genesis and find out who we are and why we're undeniably unique in the cosmos.
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Lionheart
Thank you, Elizabeth, it's nice to know that some have actually seen through the smoke screen of religion. 🙌
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Daniel Gray
Notice that all the ones who are trying to claim this is an invasion of privacy (It isnt and has never been classified as such by any court in the US in fact its used over and over again in divorce proceedings and lawsuits on fraud and in child molestation cases) so the only ones who claim it is are completely ignorant of what the law actually states.
Then you have a priest who has SWORN before his God and his church leaders to be celibate so it makes no difference if you are straight or gay, you are still breaking your vows and why should any church want to keep you as a leader of pastor of a church if they cant trust you to keep your word?
So it all boils down to a specific statement....if you want to be straight or gay, thats your business. BUT you CANNOT just join a church and take the vows to lead same and then decide you want to go out and hump a prostitute or a male lover and think that you are still going to be held as a leader of that church. You want to do that then find a religion that allows you to do same and join it.
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skye riversong
Being gay is not a sin in the eyes of the church, but living a gay life is; and for anyone, straight or gay, sex is only for within marriage for procreation. Gay men may choose not to enter into a straight marriage because procreating takes at least minimal interest on their part. Gay women, however, are supposed to marry men because they cant enter the convent and the only acceptable alternative is marriage, and for the woman, pregnancy can be accomplished with no interest what on their part, no more than barely minimal acquiescence. If they stay pregnant most of the time, they won't have to do it that much anyway. Priests take a vow of celibacy and chastity. That means not only that they cannot marry....they can't date, they can't have sex nor browse hookup apps, whether they are straight or gay. If the vows are just too hard for them to keep, they can leave the priesthood. They can be released from their vows and whatever they do or don't do is a matter between them and their confessor, because they are no longer in a leadership role. It's reasonable to out priests that are flagrantly breaking their vows as long as they go after the straight ones too. Fair is fair. But the priesthood isn't just a job or career like any other and there's no expectation of privacy "off hours", because there vows are in effect 24/7.
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Cheryl Pettijohn
There is so much wrong here. My only choice is to marry and let a man do whatever he wants, or join a convent. Are you trying to justify the abuses you have experienced?
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Interestingly, the Christian God never married, nor did his one and only son (whose closest friends, who he referred to as his disciples) nor did the Holy Ghost.
The Christian Heaven is a haven for the gay — that’s why so many priests, nuns, popes and the like, want to go there.
Everyone knows that none of the “Ten Commandments” makes homosexuality a sin (or even a mortal sin) so “gay away your Catholic Church’s sexually-imposed frustrations” and if you close your eyes — it’s hard to tell who’s doing what to whom.
The Christian God remains a bachelor, for reasons known only to him.
We, who are Pantheists, have the only known provable God, and the Pantheist God is the same as nature,
So if any of my fellow ULC’ers require a God (aka, nature) who approves of anything you’d like to do (as long as you don’t harm anyone else) try Pantheism — especially if members of the opposite sex don’t turn you on.
Bishop Bill; DD, twice sainted, with four ULC doctorates (including a freethinkers certificate).
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Dingleberry. You are wrong again. Would you please go somewhere else to spread your lies.
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Rev. B
If nature and g-d are the same thing, does that mean nature told Abraham to kill Isaac?
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Catherine Marie Boudreau
I personally know two people, one male and one female, that were encouraged by their local parish and their parents to take vows. One went through seminary and became a priest, and still works as a priest today. The other took the veil, and joined a convent near Montreal. She has since left the order and is now married. She and her wife have adopted a beautiful little girl.
I guess what I’m getting at is this; everybody knows there are gay priests, and lesbian nuns. So, what is this group trying to achieve? I think they’re just looking for attention. And quite frankly, are just being absolute *********.
At least that’s my humble opinion.
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Richard Faust
When you take the role of Judge, you are assuming the role of God and that is never good. If a priest or any other type of religious leader is doing something that is against the church they currently belong to then its time to own up who you claim to be and find a church that accepts you for who you are. There are churches for everyone in the world today. If you joined a church knowing it rules and beliefs and if you break from that, it is like breaking a contract. Time to move on. Of course this concept only applies to worldly churches. It does not apply to God's Church, the God of the Bible. So we all have choices to make. makes your wisely for eternal life is on the line, That is depending on false beliefs or true belief.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Rev. Kev;
I’m reluctant to inform you that there is no such thing as a “sin” because during the Roman Catholic Inquisition the greatest of all sins (in terms how long one would have to be tortured in the Christian version of Hell) was a sin against the Holy Ghost; and because the Holy Ghost was bi - until he impregnated the Virgin Mary with the zygote Jesus — being bi was openly practiced by the disciples of Jesus.
Hopefully, Rev. Kev — this information will assist you in any efforts you make, to overcome your apparent homophobia.
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Timothy Edward Howk
Catholic clergy take 3 vows: Poverty, Chastity, Obedience. There's a big difference between chastity and celibacy. Chastity means NO sexual activity whatsoever. Celibacy simply means unmarried. 'Nuff said.
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Timothy Edward Howk
Catholic clergy takes 3 vows: Poverty, Chastity, Obedience. There's a big difference between chastity and celibacy. Celibacy simply means unmarried. Go figure.
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Doctor Loyal
How childish. Are these prideful persons without sin? Do they plan on running to God to tattle on people they suspect? "Judge Not, Lest Thou Also Be Judged." You are accountable for your own soul, not another person's soul. When you find yourself thinking judgmentally about others, judge your pride!
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Anne 'Arie
I find it shocking that people are so malicious as to mind someone else's business for any reason but when the goal is persecution, it makes it that much more repulsive to me.
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Pamela Renee DeSalvo
I believe it is a witch hunt against the gays and the anyone different from them. Regardless of their vows, are we not all human, do we not all "sin"? It is religious persecution and needless behavior from the so-called Catholics. Like I even tell my dogs when they bark at something or someone, not on their property, "Mind Your Business!" and they do. As long as these Priests are NOT seeking underage humans, what business is it of ours after all?
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Andrew H Minneman
I wonder if they actually found any? Also, I like to comment made earlier...are they searching the hetero apps?
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Pamela Renee DeSalvo
I believe it is a persecution of the LGBTQ community. It is no one's business what people do behind closed doors except the ones doing it. Religious groups have always hidden under the guise of God to do their evil, but what they are really doing is creating a cult where if we do not follow their rules and guidelines, they retaliate. This is a prime example of why most people avoid organized religion. My dogs even know what "Mind Your Business" means, as they get told this on the regular for barking or growling at someone or something NOT on our property. Just look at the recent States to ban Drag. We are being oppressed, censored, and retaliated against simply because some asshat with a god complex says its ok. We are in a scary time where people are again being hunted (AGAIN) for being different. I thought we got rid of all that with the Constitution, Gettysburg Address, the Bill of Rights and The Declaration of Independance. Seems when things are done under the guise of Religion and "the greater good of man", it is not a good outcome. Rev. Pamela DeSalvo
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ServantOfJudgement
All corporate and government entities have been given a green light to data mine anyone under their authority or employment. One of our presidents even said "The American people have no expectation of privacy". This story is old news, it's merely affecting a group of people that have been complacent with the loss of privacy until now. It's not a gay issue, it's a privacy issue.
Curious that they are only looking at, and going after, gay priests. I didn't see any mention of any straight dating/hook up apps. Does that mean that straight priests can view straight porn, masturbate to it, go to a bar and meet women, hook up and it's okay with the cathlofascists out headhunting only gay priests. Maybe the whole setup is so that certain members of congregations can see if they themselves are outable. Afterall, it's almost always the deeply closeted gays that are the most virulently anti-gay
We know the catholic church has a problem with priests molesting boys. Straight men don't molest boys, not possible. Dunno, maybe that's their thinking. Not trying to be rude or offensive, just pointing out a possibility.