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A Catholic convert tore down and burned a “pride” flag earlier this month outside All Saints Catholic Church in Syracuse, New York — a parish at the center of growing controversy over LGBT activism and what many are calling a liturgical scandal.
The flag was removed and destroyed overnight June 6-7, just days before the parish marked “pride” month with a controversial Sunday Mass that ignited outrage and was widely condemned as sacrilege. In response, the parish announced a public flag re-raising ceremony for June 14.
“This obviously required deliberate effort and was intended to send a message,” the parish stated on its website, claiming the flag was “flown proudly” outside the church.
All Saints pastor Father Fred Daley, who describes himself as a “gay priest,” told local media that the man who removed the flag contacted him via email, identifying himself as a recent Catholic convert who viewed the flag as sacrilegious.
While the man remains anonymous, many Catholics online have expressed support for his actions amid growing frustration with the parish’s public rejection of Church teaching.
The controversy intensified following the parish’s June 15 Mass — celebrated on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity — which Fr. Daley opened by inviting applause for LGBT parishioners.
“We’re called to celebrate God’s diversity, and that’s what we’re about here today,” Fr. Daley told parishioners at the beginning of Mass. “So, for ‘pride’ weekend, let’s have a nice hand of applause, especially to our LGBT folks.”
Daley then referred to the Holy Spirit as “she” while proclaiming the Gospel of John and invited “Kevin” Noble-Ward — a woman who claims she is male and is affiliated with the Episcopal Church — to give a reflection from the pulpit in place of the homily.
“I felt like I was a boy on the inside, but everyone kept telling me I was a girl,” Noble-Ward told the congregation. “When my husband died, I decided to transition from female to male… it was the right decision for me.”
Outcry swiftly followed online, as many Catholics labeled the liturgy as blasphemous and heretical.
Father Dwight Longenecker, a Catholic priest from South Carolina, criticized the liturgy on X, writing that Fr. Daley “made up his own Eucharistic prayer” and gave the final blessing in the name of “Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier” — a formulation that omits the traditional Trinitarian names and is considered theologically problematic.
“So on Trinity Sunday an obvious Trinitatian heresy,” Fr. Longenecker wrote. “No wonder Catholics are moving from New York to South Carolina.”
Sergio Garcia, a Catholic layman, shared a letter he says he sent to the bishop of Syracuse, titled “Liturgical Abuse at All Saints Parish – Request for Immediate Action.” In it, he listed violations including replacing the Sign of the Cross with “Namasté,” allowing a layperson to preach the homily, and using female pronouns for the Holy Spirit.
“Your Excellency, I do not write this out of anger, but out of deep grief and love for the Church,” Garcia wrote. “While faithful Latin Mass communities are being investigated and restricted, events like this—clearly violating scripture, canon law, and the sacred liturgy—continue unrebuked.”
As of this article’s publication, the Diocese of Syracuse has not released a public response.
All Saints Catholic Church continues to promote LGBT‑themed events, including “pride” community gatherings, LGBT seminars, and a newly launched “transgender support group” set to hold its first meeting June 18, according to the parish website.
