Bernárd J. Lynch Explained

Type:priest
Bernárd J. Lynch
Honorific Suffix:Ph.D.
Church:Roman Catholic
Appointed:-->
Retired:-->
Ordination:December 20, 1971
Ordained By:Eugene O'Doherty
Birth Date:1947
Birth Place:Ennis, County Clare, Republic of Ireland
Tomb:-->
Nationality:Irish, US
Religion:Catholicism
Previous Post:-->

Bernárd J. Lynch (born 1947) is an Irish Catholic priest and psychotherapist based in London, renowned for his human rights work with HIV/AIDS and with the LGBTQIA community. He studied theology and philosophy with the Society of African Missions in Dromantine, near Newry and was ordained in 1971.[1] [2]

Lynch is an out gay man and married his husband in 2017.

Career

Lynch has worked for the rights of LGBT people for more than forty years starting with his work in Dignity USA (New York Chapter), the LGBT Catholic group, after his ordination in 1971.[3] [4] [5]

In 1982, Lynch founded the first AIDS ministry in New York City with Dignity USA (New York Chapter) as documented in the documentary films AIDS: A PRIEST’S TESTAMENT[6] in 1987 and SOUL SURVIVOR[7] in 1990.[3] Lynch publicly campaigned in support of Mayor Ed Koch's Executive Order 50 in 1984, which compels City contractors not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.[8]

Lynch publicly testified in favour of New York City’s lesbian and gay rights bill that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in jobs and public accommodations, seeing it through to passage by the New York City Council in 1986.[9]

As reported in the documentary film A PRIEST ON TRIAL, Lynch's support for LGBT rights brought down on him a false prosecution perpetrated by church and government officials. In 1988, Lynch was indicted for child sex abuse alleged to have occurred at Mount Saint Michael Academy in The Bronx in the mid 1980s. Lynch won total exoneration from Justice Burton Roberts in Bronx Supreme Court.[10] [11] He later moved to London and started a ministry for gay priests.

Lynch faced a civil lawsuit, filed in 2019, in New York related to the abuse allegations for which he was acquitted in criminal court in 1989.[12] It was claimed in 2021 that he was again cleared of all charges.[13]

In November 2022, it was announced that the National Library of Ireland has acquired the personal papers from Lynch.[14] The Fr Bernárd Lynch Collection represents the personal and public life of Lynch. Comprising letters, postcards, newspaper clippings, and legal testimonies, the archive spans more than 50 years.[15]

Personal life

In 2006, Lynch became the first Catholic priest in the world to have a civil partnership[16] after having this relationship publicly blessed in 1998.[17] In the early 2010s, he was reportedly expelled from the Society of African Missions and the priesthood. He legally married his partner, Billy Desmond, in 2017 in Ireland.[18]

Honors

Lynch was honoured with the Magnus Hirschfeld Award 1988 for outstanding service to the cause of Irish LGBT civil rights.[19] In 2017, Lynch received a proclamation from the New York City Council honouring his more than 40 years of service to the LGBT and AIDS communities in the city.[20] [21] Lynch received Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad for 2019, in the Charitable Works category. The awards recognise the contribution of members of the Irish diaspora in the world.[22] In 2023, Clare County Council hosted a Civic Reception acknowledging the remarkable influence exerted by Bernárd Lynch in his efforts in advocating for equal rights, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.[23]

Publications

Legacy

Notes and References

  1. https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/christian-alternative-books/authors/bernard-j-lynch Bernard J Lynch
  2. News: 'Sexuality, like priesthood, is a gift from God. Nobody would choose to be gay'. The Irish Times. 2018-10-05.
  3. News: 1987-10-29 . New York and The Irish Emigrant: How Bernard Lynch was Silenced by The Church . In Dublin.
  4. News: Tivnan . Edward . 1987-10-11 . Homosexuals and the Churches . New York Times Magazine.
  5. Web site: Horowitz . Adam . 2020-08-04 . Fr. Bernard Lynch – Archdiocese of New York Horowitz Law . 2022-10-16 . www.adamhorowitzlaw.com . en-US.
  6. Web site: AIDS: A Priest's Testament (1987). https://web.archive.org/web/20190731162841/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b79c0c7d5. dead. 31 July 2019. BFI. 2018-10-29.
  7. Web site: Soul Survivor (1990). https://web.archive.org/web/20190731162841/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7ac15dfa. dead. 31 July 2019. BFI. 2018-10-29.
  8. News: Thousands Hold March to Back Homosexuals. Bird. David. 1984-06-25. The New York Times.
  9. News: Clergy Forms Unit: Gay-Rights Bill Supported. Bell. Charles W.. 1986-01-29. Daily News.
  10. News: Father Lynch: 'The Vatican has told them to get rid of me'. Stanford. Peter. 2012-04-08. The Independent. 2019-02-16.
  11. News: Priest Cleared on Sex Charges. Crowe. Maire. 1989-04-29. Irish Voice.
  12. https://nypost.com/2019/11/20/celebrated-lgbt-priest-bernard-j-lynch-abused-bronx-catholic-school-student-suit/ Celebrated LGBT priest Bernard J. Lynch abused Bronx Catholic school according to lawsuit
  13. Web site: 2021-09-09 . Press Release: Complete vindication of Fr Bernárd J. Lynch . 2022-10-16 . www.wearechurchireland.ie . en.
  14. News: Hunt . Conor . 29 Nov 2022 . National Library acquires papers of HIV/AIDs activist Lynch . RTÉ . 29 Mar 2023.
  15. News: 29 Nov 2022 . Personal papers of HIV/Aids activist Bernárd Lynch acquired by National Library . The Irish Times . 29 Mar 2023.
  16. News: Catholic priest from Co Clare marries long-time boyfriend. Deegan. Gordon. 2017-01-27. The Irish Times. 2019-04-14.
  17. Web site: Fr. Bernard Lynch Profile . 18 November 2022 . LGBTQ Religious Archive Network.
  18. Web site: Gay priest marries long-term partner in 'beautiful' ceremony in Clare. Gordon. Deegan. TheJournal.ie.
  19. News: 1988 . Magnus Hirschfeld Awards Honours Supporters of Gay Community . Sunday Tribune.
  20. News: Hamilton . Andrew . 2017-01-31 . Clare's First Gay Marriage . Clare People.
  21. News: Humm . Andy . 2017-02-16 . New York Gay, AIDS Pioneer Bernárd Lynch Weds . Gay City News . 2021-04-18.
  22. News: Hilliard . Mark . 2019-11-21 . Higgins: Moral question of how Irish treat immigrants must be a concern President made comments while speaking at ceremony honouring 12 Irish emigrants . The Irish Times . 2019-11-22.
  23. News: 23 June 2023 . Civic Reception held to recognise outstanding societal impact of Bernárd Lynch . Clare County Council . 29 June 2023.
  24. Web site: AIDS : A Priest's Testament (Original). live. 2021-04-18. BFI. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418191830/http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150350459 . 2021-04-18 .
  25. Web site: A Priest on Trial (1990) . 2019-02-16 . BFI.
  26. Web site: A Priest on Trial (Original). live. 2021-04-18. BFI. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418192533/http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150366481 . 2021-04-18 .
  27. Web site: Soul Survivor (Original). live. 2021-04-18. BFI. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418192309/http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150366483 . 2021-04-18 .
  28. Web site: 13 January 2023 . "Falsely Accused" – A Tribute Documentary To Bernárd Lynch . 20 April 2023 . Clare FM.
  29. Web site: 19 April 2023 . Winners Gallery: Falsely Accused . 20 April 2023 . New York Festivals.
  30. Web site: 19 April 2023 . Clare FM Documentary 'Falsely Accused' Wins Gold At New York Radio Awards . 20 April 2023 . Clare FM.

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