Dear Friends, Colleagues, Fellow Activists:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear
friend and community activist, Gay Catholic Priest, Rev. Dr. Paul E.
Murray.

Rev. Dr. Murray, Chairperson of the God &
Sexuality Conference, Catholic Chaplain and Visiting Assistant
Professor of Religion at Bard College passed away on On
January 31st in his home in
Tivoli, NY.

Dr. Murray was an author, teacher, scholar, and activist. 
He touched thousands of lives and devoted his spiritual and intellectual
energies to creating a more dynamic, welcoming, and safe Catholic
church and understanding of religion in general.  Paul was the founder
and executive director of Among Friends, Inc.,
which provides transitional housing, counseling, and job-search support
to persons in crisis. 

Paul was a great and quiet man.  He changed the lives of thousands and
offered a vision of compassion, spirituality, and promise to Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer people of all ages and faiths.  
His work was confident, his beliefs deep, his patience endless.  He
is greatly missed.

He most recently published his memoir Life in Paradox, The Story of a Gay Catholic Priest
(2008, O Books). Other publications include: “A Cultural Reading of Literature on the Catholic Church in the South,” Culture of Bible Belt
Catholics; “The ‘International Outlook’,” Place of the Person in Social Life; and articles, interviews, and book reviews in
Anthropos; Technology and Disability; National Catholic Reporter; Charities, U.S.A.; Washington
Blade. 

He is survived by his mother Verna H. Murray, sister
Rebecca Burns, nieces Julia Warga and Jennifer Glynn, and many friends, students, and colleagues.

Friends may call at the Arlington Funeral Home, 3901 N. Fairfax Dr.,
Arlington, VA on Friday, February 13, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. A mass of
Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 14, 2009 at
10:30 a.m. in St. Stephen-Martyr Catholic Church, 2436 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW, Washington DC. Interment to follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Falls
Church, VA.

Memorial contributions maybe made to the
The God and Sexuality Conference at Bard College, PO Box 5000,
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504.  Please let us know if you would like to make a contribution in Paul’s memory.

In Sorrow,

Gabriel Blau

Director, The God & Sexuality Conference

Gay Catholic Priest, Paul Murray, Bard College,