Gay priest advocates for ordination of women, inclusion of gays, lesbians
PHOENIX — A Roman Catholic priest who has been on leave from the Diocese of Phoenix for three years has been excommunicated.
The decree of excommunication naming the Rev. Chris Carpenter was issued last month by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted but just made public this week.
Olmsted says in a statement posted on the diocese Web site that Carpenter brought about his own excommunication by joining the Reformed Catholic Church as a priest.
The reformed church favors ordination of women, full participation of gay and lesbian members and a married priesthood. Carpenter is openly gay.
The diocese newspaper The Catholic Sun says the 41-year-old has been living in southern California since leaving as pastor of Christ the King Parish in Mesa. He also was a film critic for the Sun.