Members of the the Church of the Redeemer in Astoria gasped when their beloved priest, Juan Andres Quevedo-Bosch, stopped service last month to deliver a triple whammy.
From the pulpit, he informed the congregation that: 1. He was gay, 2. He was divorcing his wife, and 3. He was marrying a younger man.
Chaos, confusion and outrage ensued.
“Most of the people aren’t coming anymore,” one parishioner told the New York Post. “Because he’s homosexual, people have stopped coming.”
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Another parishioner said he was “puzzled” by Quevedo-Bosch’s sudden announcement because he appeared to be such “a wonderful husband” to his wife, Adria.
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As a result of the abrupt drop in attendance, Saturday services at the church have been canceled, and Wednesday’s mass is on the chopping block as few than 10 people have been showing up.
But despite the departures, some church members are standing by Quevedo-Bosch. A petition urging him to stay after he offered to resign is circulating.
Since his stunning announcement, he hasn’t been seen at the church. But he has been spotted on Facebook. Last week he announced that he and his husband were married in Los Angeles. That was followed with a picture from their honeymoon along with the caption: “I’m in Miami Beach with my new husband. God is good.”
When contacted by the Post, Quevedo-Bosch had little to say about the matter other than, “I am aware that there have been concerns regarding my divorce and subsequent remarriage and have been in touch with my bishop and my congregation about them.”
Bishop Larry Provenzano, head of the Long Island diocese, which includes the Church of the Redeemer in Astoria, told the Post, “Priests who wish to enter into same-gender marriage are approved to do so in the Episcopal Church and in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island,” adding that Quevedo-Bosch has his “full support” in whatever he chooses to do next.
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Skyler Weston Mays
Scumbag….there is a time and place for everything.
Ronald Galena
The bishop won’t like this!
Monroe Chaplin Dean
Miz Jade
Michael Ceniceros
Ooooops. Ha.
Harold Phelps
Seems like a pretty shitty way to announce the information.
stanhope
CUD! Completely unnecessary drama. From the pulpit? Really? I would t want that ass for a husband. To the unwise, look at how he treated the former spouse to see your future.
jwtraveler
Homophobia nothwithstanding, they might not have been thrilled if he announced from the pulpit that he was divorcing his wife to marry a younger woman.
Prinny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS2DqJj_HDQ
Ladbrook
Yeah, he probably could have found a slightly better way to come out, divorce, and remarry.
Celtic
The manner in which this “pastor” delivered his message suggests he never should have become a pastor to begin with. A letter to the members of his church, carefully thought out and worded, sent to each individual member is the appropriate way to communicate such an important life matter. Frankly, his new “younger” partner might want to think twice about becoming entwined with this man, because he likely will be treated the same way when the preacher man tires of his boy.
Atrius
The age of the man, as long as they are of consenting age, is irrelevant.
J.T.
This is a very disappointing article, taken almost verbatim from the lurid account in the sensational and homophobic New York Post. I applaud Fr. Quevedo-Bosch for his courage to be himself and to do so publicly. What’s so inappropriate about announcing a significant life change from the pulpit? Who knows the circumstances of his former marriage? What exactly did he say and how did he say it? Isn’t there anyone here who remembers the giddy feeling of liberation when coming out? Shame on all the negative comments. We should be welcoming this brave and honest man to the community.
Celtic
As an ordained Priest, I cannot strongly enough say how much I disagree with you. Delivering such a message to one’s congregation during a sermon is about as unprofessional and thoughtless as one can get. Obviously, you do not understand the relationship a pastor or priest is expected to have with his congregants.
Danger Barkwood
aliengod
People should be outraged. He has no business being a pastor. This wasn’t courageous, it was inappropriate. If he wants to divorce his wife and get with a young guy, so be it. But you don’t announce something like that from the pulpit. Just unbelievable the level of stupid some people achieve.
Celtic
@aliengod: You are spot on. Disgraceful.
Jack Anthony Owen
What a f#cking looser!
Celtic
@J.T.: As an ordained Priest, I cannot strongly enough say how much I disagree with you. Delivering such a message to one’s congregation during a sermon is about as unprofessional and thoughtless as one can get. Obviously, you do not understand the relationship a pastor or priest is expected to have with his congregants.
GayEGO
The Church attendance was declining anyway because Quevedo-Bosch was gay. He wanted to tell the congregation what his plans were and I understand that can be shocking to some people. He did the right thing by not continuing to hide who he is and will become a much better priest, truth wins. For those who refuse to try and understand and to be loving and inclusive as religious people should be, Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Stache99
Well, at least it’s an adult. Were talking progress however small folks.
Designermax
There is such a thing called etiquette. These matters no matter how progressive the congregation or denomination still demand tact and diplomacy. You don’t just blurt out to your parishioners everything that is shifting in your life, all at once. that’s like dousing them with an icy cold bucket of water, without a moment’s chance to respond. No matter who slovenly sloppy we may have become in our society, in our social interactions, the need for soft skills is still there!
charlieeod74
What an uncaring dolt. This announcement should have in a more sensation manner. I’m all for gay marriage, and would hope I too could marry the man of my dreams, but I wouldn’t do it this way.
Brian Johnson-Frazier
It isn’t me this time. Lol
Lestar
well, not the best way to deal with it, even if we might no know what sort of agreements he and his wife made regarding the ‘situation.’….but,hallelujah, you have seen the light brother.
bottom250
Thank God he saw the light and turned away from the devil’s creation that is woman. Sweethearts turn away from women and go to the angels that are men.
Leonard Woodrow
The “outraged” parishioners would do well to remember that “God” teaches them to love their neighbour, warts and all. So get up off your hypocritical arses and apologise.
Doughosier
He obviously was tired of his job. You could look at it like giving the finger to his parishioners.
TampaBayTed
Typical move of an older male which is seen all too often. Except in this case, it’s a trophy husband. Hope his new husband leaves him when he gets tired of the old horny goat.
Prinny
@bottom250: Angels are sexless
Sweetie Pie
@Ronald Galena: Of course not…they were dating the same guy
Billy Budd
At least he is not molesting little children, as they usually do.
Sweetie Pie
The priest found love…and God is love…end of the story
Kieran
So many angry, bitter queens in the world. And judgmental as all hell.
Linda Hopp-Hill
Now that’ll get your attention.
bottom250
@Prinny: Ohhh Honey it was a joke.
Xzamilio
@Prinny: They’re also myth.
NoCagada
@Skyler Weston Mays: Yeah…church isn’t about gay adult relationships…it’s about priests boinking little boys’ bottoms
NoCagada
@Xzamilio: And why do people dress their kids up as angels and take pictures? Aren’t angels DEAD people?
anthonyz
This man took a leap of faith to believe in himself and move forward in life. It properly took an immense amount of courage to become fully self-aware then a great sense of joy and relief. So what he wished to share that joy with a congregation he loved and thought would love him back and wish him well. The only problem is the Catholic teaching that condemned every good intention this man had in revealing his true self to the world. You know sorta like what Christ did.
mz.sam
Yo Juan, baby! Screw your head back on straight, get some conversion therapy, and go back to your shell-shocked wife. We don’t want ‘ya! And no free heavenly samples, Puh-leeze!!
inbama
@Stache99: He’s Episcopalian, not Catholic.
Gaymikey1960
WAY TO GO JUAN! i am so proud of you for standing up for who you are! do not listen to all of these hate filled people! Conversion therapy PUH-LEEZE! Conversion therapy is SHIT! and everyone knows it why else are they banning it now? because it gives people the right to MURDER in the name of their god. If that is what god is to you to give you the right to murder gay teens and adults then F**K your GOD! i want nothing to do with him! Change is in the air and you don’t like it because you can’t force us to believe what you believe you pious hate filled christians. Jusn did what he had to do to be happy with his life and his bishop is backing him which is the CHRISTIAN thing to do!
Lance Mullholland
First of all, he’s a priest – NOT a “reverend” (Rev. is a prefix, or “title” of address as is “mister” or “the honorable” ). It is not a noun.
Grasp this nugget of manners, and you may then visit your local Episcopal church. Once there, address the priest as either “father” or “mister” in person.
Secondly, this priest was tacky tacky to do this within the context of worship.
BAD MANNERS is the worst breach of the Rules in an Episcopal parish. He obviously is not of English/Anglo-Saxon extraction, so we’ll let him slide this time…
Redpalacebulleaglesox
There is a time and place for everything and this was neither. I compare it to Newt Gingrich telling one wife he was divorcing her to marry another woman while she was in a hospital seriously ill. Very poor taste and not something I would want anyone to do in my presence. I would probably leave that congregation as well. Everyone involved deserves better.
Xzamilio
@Gaymikey1960: The sympathy and empowerment to be who you are went out of the window with the despicable way he decided to come out. I have more sympathy for his wife than I do for him. Fuck his congregation, but I think the woman he was married to for all of those years deserved more respect than that.
Sweetie Pie
@Lance Mullholland: Get over it…most Anglicans in the world are not Anglo-Saxons, even in England most of regular churchgoers to CofE services are people from other parts of the world…be grateful that someone is going to church and that still some people want to be ministers…and talking about bad manners, Lord John Sewell, member of the British parliament was caught snorting coke, wearing a bra and partaking with hookers last week…oh dear, an English Lord.
Obviousy you are not an Episcopalian/Anglican ad your comments are based on stuff you read on the net
Billy Budd
As long as they don’t molest any children, I don’t care WHO they fuck.
gayambassador
There was definitely a better way to handle this. But when you have suppressed and denied your true self for many years. And most likely self hatred and self loathing have been your constant companions rational decision making goes out the door as people burst out of the darkness of the closet http://lgbtiqcoach.blogspot.com.au/p/blog-page_3.html
Pete
Episcopalian, what else!
Maybe he can date Bishop Gene Robinson’s ex.
Pete
Episcopal: a church founded by the need for a divorce.
blackberry finn
Not the time and place for this? On the contrary, it’s precisely the time and place for it! If it were any other workplace, wouldn’t it be seen as courageous and inspiring? So what if only 10 people support him! If the priest keeps his job, the 10 supporters can become the foundation for building a new congregation. When that project succeeds, the old skeptics may come back to see what they’re missing. As Nietzsche said, “Only as creators can we destroy”. Alienating 80% of the congregation is an opportunity to build!
jason smeds
If a man who has sex with a woman subsequently decides to have sex with a man, it scares a lot of women. It represents male power. Women can’t cope with such strong male power because it takes away her ability to keep men solely attracted to women.
You have to remember that women get a power kick out of ensuring that her man remains solely attracted to women. When he decides to opt in his same-sex feelings, it destroys her power.
Unless this man chooses to identify as gay, I don’t see hims as gay at all. Gay is a choice of identity. It is possible to engage in homosexual activity but not be gay.
Giancarlo85
@jason smeds: Blah blah blah… more misgynoist bullshit from smeds. More hatred of women. I think he fears women of power. I’m sure Hillary Clinton makes him very scared and frightened.
martinbakman
The congregation deserved to know the truth. Silence can be harmful, especially if the message becomes hijacked by higher-ups. But yeah, perhaps a letter would have helped them take in the message in a more measured way, rather going all-in from the pulpit.
1EqualityUSA
smeds is a virgin
jason smeds
Hillary Clinton is a woman of power??? Lol. Isn’t she the woman who tolerated her husband’s near-glory hole activities in the White House and then accepted her own humiliation in order to remain married to the man who cheated on her? Sure, she’s empowered….
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balehead
He’s a gross pedophile for doing that….
Shadeaux
WOW… what a butt!
NoCagada
@balehead: Now, that was IGNORANT
Kangol
@balehead: Do you have any idea what “pedophile” means? He married a consenting adult man, not a child! There’s a HUGE difference! Get help!
Vallin
Well that was more unexpected than The Spanish Inquisition! I hope the church pews were comfy.
Vallin
@Lance Mullholland: But then, Episcopalians are “colonials” after all.
Vallin
@jason smeds: I’ve discovered–through direct personal experience–that what REALLY threatens cis-womens’ “Pussy Power” is attraction to transwomen.