Fr. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and LGBT activist, made headlines once again as openly homosexual ABC News correspondent Gio Benitez credited him for bringing him back into the Catholic Church “exactly as I am.” His partner Tommy DiDario — whom he referred to as his husband — served as his sponsor.
Benitez, a weekend co-anchor on Good Morning America, shared a video of his Confirmation Mass at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan on Monday.
“Six months ago, the death of a humble pope unexpectedly took me on a journey that was a lifetime in the making,” he wrote. “(Fr. James Martin) was on GMA speaking about Pope Francis’ legacy of inclusivity. His words struck me. It was the first time I had seen a Catholic priest speaking in such a beautiful way about LGBTQ people.”
He added, “When we’re able to love and love freely and openly — and love ourselves as well — we are a long ways down the road to fulfilling the Kingdom of God.”
Benitez wrote that he became convinced that he could recommit to the Catholic faith of his youth — he was baptized with his mother at age 15 — while identifying as an LGBT person, thanked Martin and several other priests, and concluded, “I found the Ark of the Covenant in my heart, stored there by the one who created me … exactly as I am.”
Benitez entered into a same-sex “marriage” with DiDario in 2016. Beneath the video posted to Instagram, DiDario wrote, “Standing beside you and watching you step into something that fills you with such joy and peace was one of the greatest honors of my life. I’m endlessly proud of you and so grateful to be both your sponsor and your husband. I love you more than words can say.”
Martin added a one-word comment: “Welcome!” He also posted a photograph of himself standing with Benitez and DiDario with the caption: “Welcome to the Catholic Church … Gio! I was so happy to … participate in the reception into full communion with the church for Gio at a Mass at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.”
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