A gay employee of St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in University Heights was forced to resign after a series of hate message and threats were made towards him and his family.
San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy emphasized his support for Pastoral Associate Aaron Bianco, who resigned last weekend, and called the threats made towards the parishioner, "reprehensible."
"There is nothing Christian or Catholic about the hateful and vile people whose persecution of Aaron Bianco drove him from his ministry and who continue to threaten him, his family and the staff and community at St. John the Evangelist parish," McElroy said in a written statement.
Bianco, an openly gay man, has been targeted by a slew of anti-gay messages in his two years working for the parish. Recently, a hateful slur was spray-painted on an office wall of their church.
San Diego police were searching surveillance cameras to see if they could find the vandals.
Bianco had also been the subject of articles posted that claim he and Bishop Robert McElroy are corrupting the church at the parish and diocesan levels, he said.
But despite the messages, he told NBC 7 last week he didn't want to give the attackers power over him and would continue his work with the church.
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It is not clear what caused Bianco to resign this weekend.
St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church considers themselves welcoming and inclusive and has an LGBT outreach ministry program.
A message on their website reads, "As a diocese we want to be with everyone. We want to send a message of love, compassion, listening and being with all the people."
Read the full statement from San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy:
"There is nothing Christian or Catholic about the hateful and vile people whose persecution of Aaron Bianco drove him from his ministry and who continue to threaten him, his family and the staff and community at St. John the Evangelist parish.
"These reprehensible acts are utterly contrary to Catholic teaching and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The hatred that lies behind them constitutes a dark and vicious corner in the life of our Church that every member of the Catholic community must reject.
"I support and stand in solidarity with the staff and community of St. John’s parish at this pivotal moment."
