BEAL CITY, Mich. (AP) 鈥 A Catholic priest has resigned as pastor of a church in a small central Michigan community, the result of weeks of controversy following his publicly expressed regret that a gay author had read a book to preschool children.
Gay rights activists and others have held regular protests outside St. Joseph the Worker Church in Beal City, 85 miles (136.7 kilometers) north of Lansing, the state capital.
The Rev. Thomas Held's departure as pastor was by the bishop of the Saginaw Catholic Diocese, The Morning Sun reported.
Held 鈥渉as come to the decision that it would be impossible for him to bring unity to the parish,鈥 said Bishop Robert Gruss, who called it an 鈥渦nfortunate situation.鈥
There has been tension since Held went on Facebook on March 13 to respond to a parish preschool visit days earlier by local author Dominic Thrasher, who read from his book, 鈥淭he Adventures of Cece and the Sheriff.鈥 The main characters are puppies.
Held did not mention Thrasher by name, but he said a 鈥済uest who does not represent the values of our Catholic faith鈥 had read a book to children.
He said a teacher was in the room at all times and that a 鈥渘ew vetting system鈥 would be put in place.
鈥淚 came into a classroom to share the love and joy I have for what I created. Why my sexuality has anything to do with that 鈥 anything 鈥 it makes me mad,鈥 Thrasher
The Saginaw Diocese said Held got involved because some St. Joseph parish members were upset over Thrasher鈥檚 鈥渃ivil union鈥 with another man, 鈥渨hich is contrary to the Catholic Church鈥檚 teaching on human sexuality and marriage.鈥
The Diocese had supported Held, even as hundreds of people held Sunday protests against the priest's remarks and leadership style. They made signs that said, 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing righteous about bigotry disguised as religion,鈥 and 鈥淟ove thy neighbor NO exceptions."
Held's critics welcomed his resignation.
鈥淲e can finally begin the process of healing and restoring the sense of unity that defines our community,鈥 said Kate Beltinck, who has children in the parish school.
