An inspiring portrait of a pioneer gay priest, this film follows the extraordinary life of 86-year-old John McNeill from his Buffalo boyhood through his experiences as a POW in Nazi Germany, Vietnam peace promoter, leading gay rights advocate, and loving partner of forty-six years to Charles Chiarelli. McNeill - the author of groundbreaking works of gay spirituality,a founder of the LGBT Catholic group Dignity/New York, and a gay community leader during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s - refused to be silenced by the Vatican on LGBT issues, which resulted in his expulsion from the priesthood. Chronicling McNeill's love for the Catholic Church, the LGBT community, his Jesuit brothers, and his partner, Taking a Chance on God is a powerful story of faith, love and perseverance in the face of oppression and rejection.
"Wonderful movie, needs to be seen" David Courier, Sundance
Brendan Fay, Director (Maynooth University Graduate)
Originally from Athy, Ireland, Brendan is an activist, filmmaker and advocate for justice and equality for LGBT people in the Church and wider society. He is founder and co-chair of New York's inclusive St. Patrick's Parade, and founder of the Lavender and Green Alliance – a group serving the needs of the Irish LGBT community. Brendan is a presenter on spirituality, sexuality and justice at churches, colleges, community groups, rallies and retreats. He has testified in Washington DC and in New York and been arrested in defense of civil and human rights.
Brendan has been involved in the movement for marriage equality since 1998 and, with Jesús Lebrón, is co-founder of the Civil Marriage Trail Project, which brings gay and lesbian couples across borders to Canada to avail of legal same-sex marriage. Brendan lives in Astoria, NY with his spouse Tom Moulton. They were among the first New Yorkers and bi-national couples to legally marry in Canada in July 2003.
In March 2008, in light of Polish President Lech Kaczyński’s bizarre use of images of their wedding in an (in part, anti-gay) televised address to the nation, Brendan and Tom travelled to Poland and appeared on national TV, making the case for gay equality and same-sex marriage. They returned for EuroPride, in Warsaw, in July 2010.
Brendan has coordinated a documentary film series about being Irish and gay in America. His own films have been screened at many festivals, including the Cork International Film Festival (Remembering Robert: Director), the Tribeca Film Festival (Saint of 9/11: Co-producer & European Field Producer) and The NY Fleadh Film Festival (A Month’s Mind: Director). His work has also been broadcast on PBS and MNN New York.
Flyer available here: Applied Social Studies Taking a Chance on God Flyer .