SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — A Catholic priest says he was fired as director of Seton Hall University’s campus ministry after publicly supporting the “NOH8 Campaign” in a Facebook post.
Rev. Warren Hall took to Twitter Friday saying: “I’ve been fired from SHU for posting a pic on FB supporting LGBT ‘NO H8.’ I’m sorry it was met with this response. I’ll miss my work here.”
He has since removed the tweet and the Facebook post.
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A spokeswoman for the Catholic university said personnel decisions about priests on campus are managed by the Archdiocese of Newark.
“Seton Hall University does not comment on personnel matters,” spokeswoman Laurie Pine said in a statement. “The Archbishop of Newark appoints the Director of Campus Ministry, who serves at his discretion.”
Jim Goodness, a spokesman for the Archdiocese, declined to comment on the specifics of why Hall was removed from the campus ministry position, but did confirm that Hall’s “term as director of campus ministry is ending.”
Goodness said Hall will still serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Newark, but will have a new assignment.
The timing of Hall’s removal comes at a time when Seton Hall is pursuing Derrick Gordon, a Plainfield native and UMass transfer who is the first openly gay Division I men’s basketball player, and a much-needed sixth man for next year’s team.
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A petition started by students demanding Hall’s reinstatement has since received over 1,800 signatures.