Priest's Tale

Father Peter Ruxton has led a sheltered life. He grew up knowing he would be a priest, and he entered seminary at the age of 17, staying ten years to get doctorates in theology and psychology. He is serving in a small midwestern parish, where the pastor, Monsignor Dugan, is a grumpy old curmudgeon who resents having the younger priest serve as his curate.One day, as Peter is hearing confessions, a gay man asks if his homosexuality is a sin. Peter explains the church's teaching—being gay is not a sin, but having gay sex is. It pains Peter to say that the man's only choice is to live a celibate life or marry a woman. Disgusted, the young man slams the door on his way out.Shocked and dismayed, Peter reflects on his on life and repressed sexuality. He recalls an experience in seminary where he almost had sex with another student. Finally, unable to live with the conflict in his mind, Peter goes to see the bishop. He gets no sympathy and ends up resigning and leaving the parish. Peter begins to accept the reality that he himself is gay, and he wonders what to do about it.Peter obtains a position as a tenured professor at a UC Hayward in Oakland, California. He travels there on the Amtrak Zephyr train, where he meets a handsome gay businessman, Dan O'Niall. Peter falls in love with Dan but is terrified of acting on his feelings. On the three day cross-country ride, Peter and Dan become closer and move toward consummating their attraction. But Dan disappears one morning, leaving behind only a brief, cryptic note.Peter is heart-broken, but he continues to his teaching job. He shares a house with two gay men, and they welcome him into the academic community. All is going well for Peter, until one evening, his two roommates arrange for a surprise visitor, who turns out to be Dan O'Niall.