Priest announces mid-sermon he’s leaving his wife for a man

An Episcopal priest has caused shockwaves through his Queens congregation after interrupting a service last month with some divine news about his personal life.

Reverend Juan Andres Quevedo-Bosch, 59, archdeacon of the Church of the Redeemer in Astoria cut short his sermon, announcing his marriage to wife Adria, 73, was over, he was gay, and was leaving his wife for a “much younger man”.

On Facebook last week, Quevado-Bosch added he and his husband were now happily married in Los Angeles and celebrating their honeymoon.

“I’m in Miami Beach with my new husband. God is good,” he said.

Since the unexpected announcement, The New York Post reports church numbers have dropped significantly, with Saturday church services wholly suspended and Wednesday mass facing a similar fate, given less than 10 church-goers have attended.

“Most of the people aren’t coming anymore,” one parishioner told The New York Post.

“Because he’s homosexual, people have stopped coming.”

While Cuban-born Quevado-Bosch has since resigned and not been seen back at the church, some church members are standing by him and are circulating a petition urging him to stay.

Quevedo-Bosch told The New York Post, “I am aware that there have been concerns regarding my divorce and subsequent remarriage and have been in touch with my bishop and my congregation about them.”

Head of the Long Island diocese Bishop Larry Provenzano, which includes the Church of the Redemmer, said Quevedo-Bosch had his “full support” in whatever he chooses to do next.

“Priests who wish to enter into same-gender marriage are approved to do so in the Episcopal Church and in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.”

The Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop in 2003.

Words by TROY NANKERVIS