This creepy Catholic group spent $4 million to out gay priests on gay hookup apps
$4 million–to identify priests using gay hookup apps.While the apps in question have said they now restrict user data to protect people against outing, the Catholic group swears it’s not anti-gay, it’s just interested in making sure that all priests practice celibacy.The non-profit group Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal (CLRC)–which claims to “support the commitment of Roman Catholic clergy to living the teachings of the church”–purchased mobile app tracking data, collected between 2018 and 2021, from Growlr, Scruff, and Jack’d as well as OKCupid (a site for queer and straight users), The Washington Post recently reported.CLRC then sent a report detailing the data (mostly taken from Grindr) to a local diocese, an area overseen by a Catholic bishop.
The report included when and where the apps were used — sometimes locating uses inside of parishes, rectories, and seminaries — as well as the user’s device, internet service provider, and other characteristics that could help slim down likely suspects.
The data didn’t prove any conversations or in-person meetings took place, and it’s unknown whether the data led to anyone’s quitting or being fired, the Post noted.
