Gay Man Says Catholic Parish Rebuffed Him After Marriage

Days after Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan said the Roman Catholic Church should do a better job of reaching out to gay men and lesbians, a Catholic man on Long Island came forward to say he had been ousted from his parish duties because he married his boyfriend. Nicholas Coppola, 47, has been an active member of St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church in Oceanside for a decade, assisting the bereaved at funerals, serving at the altar and once a week teaching children preparing for confirmation about the faith. Openly gay, he had years ago introduced his partner, David Krespo, to parishioners and clergy, and found only welcome, he said on Wednesday.