The Newark Archdiocese allegedly fired a Seton Hall University priest because of his support of gay and lesbian students.
The Rev. Warren Hall, who was among the school’s visible employees as director of campus ministry at his alma mater, stunned students by announcing his own ousting via Twitter on Friday.
“I’ve been fired from SHU for posting a pic on FB supporting LGBT `NO H8,’ ” he wrote, according to NJ Advance Media. “I’m sorry it was met with this response. I’ll miss my work here.”
That statement was no longer on his Twitter feed by Sunday morning.
But a follow-up tweet remained, with Hall urging students to keep bringing up gay rights to campus leaders.
“Grateful for all the support. Don’t be angry!!” he wrote. “Turn this into an opportunity for open/reasonable discussion on LGBT issues on a Cath Campus.”
Seton Hall school confirmed Hall was relieved of his duties, but passed the buck to the Newark Archdiocese, which runs the university.
A rep for the archdiocese said Hall will be transferred to a new job in Newark and labeled his removal from SHU a regular and routine change of assignment.
Hall’s ousting came at a bad time for the Pirates basketball team, reportedly in the running for Derrick Gordon, the nation’s first openly gay Division I basketball player.
Plainfield, NJ, native Gordon played for UMass and came out in April 2014. He’s already announced he plans to transfer and play somewhere else for his final year of eligibility.
Hall was a fixture at SHU athletic events — and clearly has a sense of humor about sports.
After the Seton Hall softball team fell just short of winning the Big East tournament earlier this month, he tweeted: “Sorry @SHUSoftball , I guess the incense I was offering during the game wasn’t enough! Congratulations on a great season.”
And following the NFL report about the New England Patriots deflating footballs to gain competitive advantage, Hall tweeted out a picture of an air-pump needle attached to a ring: “Just revealed: The design for NE Patriots Super Bowl Ring.”