Saying he could "no longer live the celibate life", Portland, Oregon, pastor Fr Tom Harley has announced that he has celebrated his last mass. Fr Farley, a priest for almost 30 years and pastor St. Clare Catholic Parish in Southwest Portland for the past nine, sent a letter to parishioners last week, saying he was leaving the priesthood, Oregon Live reports.
"I leave because of a private longing in my heart and soul that I have ignored or suppressed to my detriment," he wrote in the letter.
"I love priestly ministry but I cannot live this life of celibacy."
Farley, ordained in 1979, is the latest priest to leave the Catholic Church in the United States, which is struggling with a severe clergy shortage and declining numbers. American men joining the priesthood has dropped by 60 percent since the 1960s to about 40,000 in 2009.
In a telephone interview Saturday, Farley, who is in his mid- to late-50s, wouldn't discuss leaving, except to say it was a "gut-wrenching" decision. Known for his professional openness, he agreed to be photographed during Sunday Mass and did not bar reporters from the church.
Parishioners packed Farley's last Masses. As part of the services, the congregations knelt with him to confess their sins and listened as he preached a brief sermon. After Communion, Farley carried a sheet of paper to the lectern and read:
"I want to say how honored I have been to be a fellow disciple with you in the Catholic Church. I am leaving without anger or resentment, not wanting to hurt you or the Church. I do not want to be a poster child for married priests."
Farley said he will remain a practicing Catholic.
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