Openly Gay-Married ABC News Anchor Joins Catholic Church With Confirmation Mass

Staff Writer

Gio Benitez, the openly gay ABC news anchor, has rejoined the Roman Catholic Church and reaffirmed his faith, receiving a confirmation mass with his ‘husband’ at his side.

The Good Morning America co-anchor was confirmed at Church of St. Paul the Apostle, with his husband, Tommy DiDario, serving as his sponsor.

The church is known for its gay-friendly progressivism, including holding its infamous Stonewall Pride Mass.

There is also their Out at St. Paul (OSP, which is their ministry for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) people and their Allies, their affiliation and promotion of News Ways Ministry, and that time they hosted an art exhibit titled “God is Trans: A Queer Spiritual Journey.”

Benitez explained on Instagram:

Six months ago, the death of a humble pope unexpectedly took me on a journey that was a lifetime in the making. @jamesmartinsj was on GMA speaking about Pope Francis’ legacy of inclusivity. His words struck me. It was the first time I had seen a Catholic priest speaking in such a beautiful way about LGBTQ people.

Revealing that he fell away from the faith of his youth, but has since returned, he shared more about the intimate affair:

My Confirmation Mass was a very small gathering of family and friends who have quietly been with me on this journey. But in my mind, those empty pews were filled with a cloud of witnesses: my grandparents who taught me how to pray, my aunts and uncles who helped raise me, and dear friends — praying for me behind an invisible veil.

My deepest gratitude to Fr. Eric Andrews, Fr. James Martin, Fr. Paul Rospond, and Fr. @chrislawtoncsp for showing me that God’s loving mercy is unconditional.

He concludes:

…I found the Ark of the Covenant in my heart, stored there by the one who created me… exactly as I am.

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