| 1925 09 02 |
Born, Buffalo NY; youngest of 5
children |
| 1929 |
Alter boy, felt possible call to
priesthood |
| 1942 |
Fully aware of gay attraction (age
17) |
| 1944 - 1945 |
Prisoner of war in Germany for six
months. McNeill dates his decision to become a priest to an
incident during his captivity. A fellow prisoner risked his
life to give McNeill food, then made the sign of the cross. |
| 1948 06 |
Graduated magna cum laude, Canisus
College, Buffalo NY |
| 1948 08 |
Entered Jesuit novitiate |
| 1955 - 1959 |
Four-year course in theology,
Woodstock Seminary, then Woodstock, MD |
| 1959 |
Became a priest |
| |
Graduated from Louvain University,
Belgium doctor in philosophy with highest honors, Plus Grande
Distinction. Took orals in French, German, and English,
answering in the language in which the question was posed |
| 1964 |
LeMoyne College, Syracuse; taught
philosophy |
| 1965 |
Met future life partner, Charles
Chiarelli, at a gay bar in Toronto, the St. Charles |
| 1968 |
Article by a straight Jesuit on the
morality of homosexuality triggered McNeill to "bring all
my talents for analysis and writing to bear on the issue of
homosexuality." |
| 1971 04 |
Moved to NYC and Woodstock
Seminary, which had also relocated from Maryland; professor of
Christian Ethics, specializing in Sexual Ethics |
| 1973 - 2000 |
Led seminars at Kirkridge
Retreat and Study Center, Bangor, PA |
| 1974 |
Cofounded Dignity chapter in New
York City, the Roman Catholic inclusive organization |
| 1974 01 |
Father General prohibited McNeill
from publishing "anything in the popular press or to
address homosexual groups" |
| 1975 |
Entered the graduate clinical
program in Psychotherapy at the Institutes of Religion and
Health (IRH) |
| 1975 -1998 |
Practiced psychotherapy in New York
City |
| 1976 |
Book: The
Church and the Homosexual, approved by the Catholic
hierarchy after considerable review; imprimi potest |
| 1976 09 |
McNeill publicly acknowledges his
own homosexuality on the Today Show |
| 1983 |
Contribution: "Homosexuality,
Lesbianism and the Future: Building a More Humane
Society," in A Challenge to Love, ed. by Robert
Nugent, Crossroads Press, 1983. |
| 1984 |
Dan Berrigan defended McNeill in
magazine and book |
| 1986 11 |
Phil Donohue Show on the
occasion of breaking silence |
| 1987 |
Grand Marshal of the New York City
Gay Rights Parade |
| 1987 01 28 |
Dismissed from the Jesuits for
views on G/L sexuality |
| 1988 |
Book: Taking
a Chance on God |
| 1990 |
Received the National Human Rights
Award in 1984 for his contributions to lesbian and gay rights |
| 1993 |
Distinguished Contribution Award of
the Eastern Region American Association of Pastoral Counselors
for outstanding contribution to pastoral counseling |
| 1995 |
Book: Freedom,
Glorious Freedom |
| 1996 11 |
McNeill’s sister Sheila died |
| 1998 |
Book: Both
Feet Firmly Planted in Midair |
| 2000 |
Retired from leading seminars at Kirkridge
Retreat and Study Center, Bangor, PA |
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