Gay priest settles with CHC
The Rev. James St. George, the openly gay priest at the center of last month’s highly publicized employment conflict with a local Catholic college, announced a settlement with the school this week.
In a statement released from his publicist this week, St. George said he and Chestnut Hill College reached an “amicable resolution,” although he declined to provide details beyond saying the settlement was “consistent with each party’s respective religious beliefs.”
St. George will not return to teach at the school, his publicist said.
Late last month, the university declined to offer St. George another teaching contract, saying the school recently learned of public statements he made about his 15-year committed relationship with another man. St. George is pastor of Blue Bell’s St. Miriam’s, which is affiliated with the Old Apostolic Church, a non-Vatican-approved denomination that allows priests to be gay and non-celibate.
“Chestnut Hill College and I have expressed our respect for each other’s churches, however different our religious principles may be,” St. George said. “We are committed to moving forward and tending to our respective ministries.”
MANNA imparts honors
The Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance will host a fundraising gala next week to pay tribute to its supporters and celebrate the agency’s more-than two decades of providing nourishing meals to those facing life-threatening illnesses.
The second annual MANNA Nourish Awards will be held from 6-10 p.m. March 31 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St., featuring dinner, drinks, a raffle and an auction.
Awards will be given out to Dr. Mariana Chilton, state Rep. Dwight Evans (D-203rd Dist.) and the Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice, an HIV clinical program at the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at Drexel University’s College of Medicine.
The event is being co-chaired by Philadelphia Phillies player Ryan Madson and Eagles player Winston Justice and their wives, Sarah and Dania.
Tickets are $250 and can be purchased at www.manna.org/nourish.
Gaying it forward for center
Local entertainer Nicholas Rocco will host date auction “Gay It Forward” from 9 p.m.-midnight April 2 at Smokin’ Betty’s, 116 S. 11th St.
The event, a fundraiser for the William Way LGBT Community Center, will feature between 20-30 eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, and partygoers can bid on dates with them at local restaurants. The event will also feature raffles, drag performances and live entertainment.
There is no cover charge for the event.
For more information, email [email protected].
Scholarship for Blahnik youth
House of Blahnik is offering an academic scholarship for youth in the house/ball community.
The HOB Scholarship will support the educational goals of Blahnik youth who’ve demonstrated academic excellence. The three previous recipients have all attained degrees at four-year universities with support of the scholarship.
Applications, which must be submitted by 5 p.m. May 6, are available online at www.houseofblahnik.org. For more information, contact Damon Humes at [email protected] or 215-431-1790. The winner is expected to be chosen by June.
— Jen Colletta