Film: Brendan Fay, and Taking a Chance on God

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Howit’s NY:  Gay Pride wasinvented in New York City.
Howit’s Irish:  BrendanFay, a self-professed New Yorker, is a sprite off the streets of Drogheda. Heis Irish down to his boots and back up again.
Ladies and Gentlemen . . .  Brendan Fay
Honor Molloy considers Brendan Fay's new film Taking a Chance on God, and reflects on Brendan's many achievements.It was amomentous handful of days for Brendan Fay.
OnWednesday, June 13^th, he joined a handful of his fellow contributorsto the new essay collection Love, Christopher Street: Reflections of New York City  (Vantage Point Books 2012) atBarnes and Noble’s 82^nd and Broadway store. Brendan’s essay, titled“Finding Jesús onChristopher Street” is—like everything Brendan does—passionate and heartfelt,and relates his journey from Scarlet Street in Drogheda to the heart of NewYork’s LGBT community. He tells his story well, and his reading was similarlyimpressive, a rolling, rollicking evocation of his journey from repression inhis homeland to “the mad diversity and adventurous human imagination” he foundin New York City, “this rare and queerest piece of earth.”
Brendanwore another hat on Saturday evening, that of film director, when hisdocumentary Taking A Chance On God hadits New York premiere at the SVA theatre on W. 23^rd Street.
Brendan’sfilm, which was was produced by Ilene Cutler, is an hour-long look at the lifeand work of an unlikely hero of uncommon courage:  John McNeill, a Jesuit priest, World War IIveteran and a pioneering advocate for LGBT civil rights.

John McNeill (3rd from Left) and Dignity NY  in LGBT Pride Parade

Born in Buffalo, NY,McNeill—a burly, bearded unassuming Irish-American now in his 80s—spent time ina German prisoner of war camp as a teenage soldier. His experiences there led tohis involvement in the anti-Viet Nam War protests of the 1960s, when he servedas a counselor for conscientious objectors. His desire for justice and love ofhumanity found its central expression in the service of Gay rights. 

McNeill is theauthor of the groundbreaking theological study The Church and the Homosexual: Fourth Edition, the founder of the LGBT Catholicgroup Dignity/New York, and was a strong presence in the 80s Aids crisis. 

McNeill wasa controversial figure, twice officially ordered by the Vatican to keep silent.His inability to ignore the promptings of his conscience led to his eventualexpulsion from the priesthood.Brendansays the film was years in the making and was largely funded by many smalldonations. He describes it as the story of “McNeill’s love for his church, hisJesuit family, the LGBT Community and his beloved Charlie.” Charles Chiarelliis McNeill’s long-time companion.
The SVAscreening was packed with a friendly and enthusiastic audience. McNeill andChiarelli were in attendance, as were a number of others who played importantroles on and off the screen. The Hon. Noel Kilkenny, Irish Consul General inNew York, and his wife Hanora came to the podium to offer their congratulationsto Fay, Cutler and McNeill. A reception in the lobby followed the screening.
Brendandeserves a bit of a rest at this point, but it seems unlikely. The Sprite ofScarlet Street, Drogheda is not one to rest on his laurels.
A scheduleof screenings can be found here: www.takingachanceongod.com