[Moderator note: this post contains inaccuracies. Bishop Gumbleton was neither defrocked nor kicked out of the Catholic Church. He did not attempt to "provide cover for the sexual molestation of underage altar boys by other former priests who have left the church".
Instead, "A survivor of sexual abuse himself, Gumbleton was forced to resign in 2007 after he spoke out publicly in favor of an Ohio bill to extend the statute of limitations for cases of sexual abuse by clergy. Gumbleton spoke here in New York City last night at a benefit for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests." Source
Neither was he "removed from the church for wearing a homosexual themed miter".
Gumbleton wrote extensively on Catholic teaching regarding homosexuality. Gumbleton often drew from his personal experience of having a gay brother. During his time as auxiliary bishop of Detroit, Gumbleton wore a mitre at a church service that displayed symbols of the cross, a rainbow and a pink triangle. The pink triangle caused particular complaints by some due to its use to identify gay men in Nazi concentration camps. Source
He did break ranks with church teaching by preaching in favor of acceptance of gay men and lesbians and the ordination of women. Source"]
One time Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton has died. The defrocked priest was kicked out of the Catholic Church in disgrace after attempting to provide cover for the sexual molestation of underage altar boys by other former priests who have left the church. There will be no tears shed in his passing.
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