Breaking Out of the Habit: ‘Fr.’ Daniel Horan Leaves Franciscan Order, Seeks Laicization

The ‘Horan of Babylon’ calls it quits!

Breaking Out of the Habit: ‘Fr.’ Daniel Horan Leaves Franciscan Order, Petitions Vatican for Laicization

Today the world has received a gift of immeasurable value, perhaps due to the intercession of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, whose feast we celebrate: The pro-abort woke social justice warrior Rev. Daniel Patrick Horan, OFM, has announced he has left the Franciscan order and is seeking laicization from the Vatican! In other words, he’s done being a friar and a ‘priest’.

Quite appropriately, Horan announced his decision in an article for the progressivist rag National Catholic Reporter, and he did not fail to note that it was the fruit of “prayerful discernment”:

• “Always a Franciscan in spirit, but no longer a friar” (Daniel P. Horan)

All we can say is: Bye-bye and good riddance, Mr. Horan! May the Vatican swiftly grant your request, and may no one ever mistake you for a Catholic priest again!

Granted, it’s only the Novus Ordo priesthood Horan is leaving, but then that’s all he ever got. Ordained on May 19, 2012, by the notorious ‘Cardinal’ Theodore McCarrick — also known as ‘Uncle Ted’ — in the invalid 1968 rite of ordination prescribed by ‘Pope’ Paul VI, there is no way Horan ever received valid priestly orders. Although McCarrick was properly ordained a priest in 1958, his ordination as bishop in 1977 was definitely invalid.

(cropped version of original here)

Either way, it is now certain that the Rev. Horan will never again act in the role of a priest, and that is fantastic news for souls. (Now if only the Rev. Casey Cole, OFM, could follow suit.) Unfortunately, though, Horan has threatened to remain active academically:

Obviously, this vocational transition will affect my life in both personal and public ways. I will no longer be identified as a Franciscan friar or minister as a Catholic priest. Therefore, after many years of celebrating the sacraments publicly, I will no longer be able to serve the church in this way. Part of me mourns the loss of this ministry, but I have come to a place of peace and understanding about this.

However, many things will stay the same. For example, I will remain a faithful Catholic, who loves the church and the people of God. I will continue to be a professor of theology and philosophy, who teaches, researches, writes and lectures. I am also delighted to share that I will continue to serve as a regular columnist here at NCR.’

(Daniel P. Horan, “Always a Franciscan in spirit, but no longer a friar”, National Catholic Reporter, Oct. 3, 2024)

In terms of wokeness and the promotion of aberrosexuality, Horan can give the infamous Jesuit ‘Fr.’ James Martin, a run for his money, but more on that shortly.

In his write-up published today, ‘Fr.’ Horan explains that the date chosen for going public coincides with the so-called transitus [Latin for ‘passage’] of St. Francis of Assisi, his transition from this world to the next (i.e., his death):

The significance of transitus in the Franciscan tradition has always meant a lot to me, but at this moment in my own life it has an especially powerful resonance as I experience a significant transitus in my own vocational journey.

This personal transitus is reflected in my decision, in complete freedom, to leave the Franciscan order and petition the Holy See to be dispensed of the obligations of Holy Orders. This was not an easy decision, nor did I approach this discernment lightly. I have arrived at a place of peace and joy, certain that God has been with me each step of the way and continues to guide me now.

Considering his public stance on transgenderism and similar aberrosexual issues — to be discussed momentarily — one may be permitted to wonder if there isn’t another reason for his frequent use of words beginning with the prefix “trans” — transitus, transition, and transitional — throughout his article.

Be that as it may, a hefty 53-page curriculum vitae linked from his personal web site lists his credentials, academic work and accomplishments, and professional experience. It is there that we find, for example, that Horan holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Boston College and has co-taught an undergraduate college course on “Queer Theology”. One shudders to imagine the blasphemies and absurdities taught in a class like that.

Horan’s first book, published in 2012, was Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis (Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media). His most recent work, listed as “forthcoming” from Liturgical Press in Collegeville, MN, bears the blasphemous title, Not Because of Sin: Reconsidering the Reason God Became Human. A second edition of his 2021 book A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege — recommended by a writer at the insufferable Where Peter Is — will be released next year by Orbis Books.

When the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released the declaration Dignitas Infinita in April of this year, Dan Horan was among the first to criticize the text as not being progressive enough: “…the authors of this document do not understand even the basics of human sexuality, sex, sexual orientation, or any facets of gender”, he wrote in “The Strawman of ‘Gender Theory’ in the Vatican’s New Document” for the perverted New Ways Ministry the same day the document was released.

Some of Horan’s other articles published online include the following, in chronological order:

• “The truth about so-called ‘gender ideology'” (National Catholic Reporter, 2020)
• “Why Catholics should use preferred gender pronouns and names” (National Catholic Reporter, 2021)
• “Church’s anti-LGBTQ policies drive people away — and the policies are sinful, too” (National Catholic Reporter, 2022)
• “Don’t overlook the significance of the LGBTQ+ community being seen” (National Catholic Reporter, 2024)
• “What live concerts can teach us about spirituality” (National Catholic Reporter, 2024)

The following is a collection of critiques of ‘Fr.’ Daniel Horan, likewise in chronological order:

• “Brother Dan Doesn’t Like the March for Life” (The American Catholic, 2012)
• “Daniel Horan, OFM – Liar, Deceiver, Homosexualist – anything else?” (Vox Cantoris, 2016)
• “Daniel Horan, OFM – Another wolf in a cassock” (Vox Cantoris, 2017)
• “Order of Fraudulent Men: Daniel Horan & Franciscans March For Abortion” (Sacerdotus, 2017)
• “Daniel P. Horan OFM: JUST ANOTHER HOMOSEXUALIST DISSENTER” (Toronto Catholic Witness, 2017; archived because original removed)
• “Priest calls March for Life ‘repulsive’ over Covington Catholic hoax” (Life Site, 2019)
• “Pro-LGBT Catholic priest denounces critics of ‘gender ideology’ as unscientific” (Life Site, 2020)
• “Apostate Daniel Horan promotes transgenderism” (4Christum, 2021)

Earlier this year, Jonathan Liedl, writing for the National Catholic Register, referred to Horan as a “controversial hire” at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, because he “promotes gender ideology”:

Under the auspices of the spirituality center, Father Horan, a member of the Order of Friars Minor, is bringing speakers to campus that raise red flags for those concerned about St. Mary’s Catholic identity. For instance, on Feb. 7, Emily Reimer-Barry, a moral theologian who has pushed back against the Church’s prohibition of abortion, will present on “Reproductive Justice: Insights from Catholic Feminism.” And on March 20, Jason Steidl Jack, a religious studies professor who, along with the man to whom he is civilly married, was the recipient of a New York Times-documented blessing by Jesuit Father James Martin on Dec. 19, will speak on LGBTQ ministry.

Perhaps most concerning to some alumnae was Father Horan’s statement in the aftermath of the Dec. 21 policy reversal.

“Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Nonbinary people are people,” he wrote on Twitter (now called X), expressing an understanding of human sexuality at odds with Catholic teaching. “Just because it’s new or confusing to you doesn’t make it untrue or wrong or sinful or anything other than reality. Instead of denying the existence and experience of others, perhaps you might try learning.”

Father Horan eventually deleted his tweet — by deleting his entire account.

(Jonathan Liedl, “‘Trust Has Been Broken’: After Trans Policy Fallout, Controversy Still Simmers at St. Mary’s College”, National Catholic Register, Feb. 5, 2024)

A screenshot of Horan’s tweet (dated Dec. 22, 2023) is still available here.

With all of the foregoing, it is not difficult to understand what sort of ‘theologian’ Horan is.

To conclude, we return once more to his article announcing his transition from Franciscan friar and presbyter to lay professor, author, and speaker. Dr. Horan writes: “I know that some people will want to know more about my discernment and the reasons why I have come to this decision, and I do plan to share more about my experience and vocational journey later.”

Let’s see, then, what other announcements might be coming down the pike soon, no doubt after some additional “prayerful discernment”.

Image sources: YouTube (screenshot) / ifyouleadme.wordpress.com (cropped)
License: fair use / fair use