Syracuse Bishop Condemns Blasphemous Mass

The bishop of Syracuse, New York says he "did not approve in any way" a controversial Pride Mass offered by a priest in his diocese.

Father Fred Daley, a self-admittedly gay priest, presided over what critics have called a blasphemous liturgy on June 15, 2025 at All Saints Catholic Church.

With an LGBT flag superimposed with a cross projected onto a screen, Daley greets his flock with the Sanskrit word "Namasté" — which means "the divine in me bows to the divine in you." A sign with the word "Namasté" also hangs on the wall behind the pulpit. 

While two transgender LGBT flags flank the walls on either side of the altar, the priest proceeds to laud Pride Month.

"God's imagination goes to the ends of the earth," he said in his opening statement, "so the rainbow is a beautiful, beautiful symbol of God's diversity, and we're called to celebrate God's diversity."

"So for Pride weekend, let's have a nice hand of applause, especially to our LGBTQ folks here and those joining us," he continued, as parishioners clapped their hands.

During his homily, he welcomed to the pulpit a self-professed transgender  named Kevin Noble-Ward — a biological woman who claims to be a man — who gave reflections on her "journey."

"I was married for 33 years, and when my husband died, I decided to transition from female to male," Ward said. "It was the right decision for me."

"It's time to rise up, use our voices and reclaim the idea of what Church is," she continued. "From now on, Church should be a place of liberation and unconditional love for all. In the words of Pope Francis, the Church is a mother Who calls and gathers together all of Her children."

During Fr. Daley's talks, he repeatedly referred to the Holy Spirit as "she." He closed Mass by noting a Pew Research poll on LGBT Catholics: "The latest findings in 2023-24, the Roman Catholic community is the top religious denomination of accepting LGBTQ folks. Wow!" 

"Thank you, Pope Francis!" he added, as parishioners applauded.

Father Daley is a member of the dissenting Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP), which promotes female priests, contraception and homosexuality.

As Michael Hichborn of the Lepanto Institute reported, Fr. Daley also supports dissenting group New Ways Ministry, censured by the Vatican for promoting the normalization of homosexuality.

Bishop's Response

Stella Maris Media contacted Bp. Douglas Lucia's office asking for comment on the sacrilegious June 15th service, and whether he planned on taking any disciplinary action against Fr. Daley.

His chancellor, Danielle Cummings, responded, explaining that the bishop had been on retreat with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on June 15th.

"Bishop Lucia did not approve in any way how the Mass was celebrated at All Saints Church," Cummings noted, "and was misrepresented during the Mass when he was quoted as lamenting the burning of a flag."

This refers to an incident at All Saints where an anonymous individual tore down the LGBT flag flying outside the church. The bishop afterwards sent a letter to Fr. Daley, an excerpt of which the priest read aloud to parishioners at the end of this same Mass: "I have learned of the unfortunate incident regarding the Pride flag. It certainly does not reflect the love and compassion that this month, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, wishes to promote."

Cummings continued, "In a letter to all priests in 2024, Bishop Lucia stated that 'No secular banners pertaining to particular popular movements should be hung in our churches or displayed on church property. I see no problem with an American or Vatican flag on our buildings or within the worship space. This is a time ­honored tradition. However, the display of politically charged banners, posters, flags, etc., is not appropriate and does not have a place in our parishes in which all should be welcomed.'"

"Bishop Lucia reminded Father Daley of this directive prior to Mass at All Saints in response to his learning about the flag burning incident," she noted. 

As of June 19th, the transgender rainbow flags are no longer visible on the walls in the streamed online liturgies.

"The liturgical violations are in no way condoned or approved by Bishop Lucia and he is addressing this matter," Cummings explained.

Cummings did not specify how the bishop is addressing the liturgical violations and whether it involves merely a private warning to Fr. Daley, or launching a canonical process against him.

Some Catholics, however, are frustrated that the priest has not been disciplined sooner.

In comments to Stella Maris Media, Theresa Foster, a Catholic who has met with Bp. Lucia to discuss this and other matters, said, "I would like Fr. Daley to be removed from ministry. I fear for all of the souls that he is misleading."

"I don't know why Bishop Lucia is delaying," she continued. "Based on his letter that Fred Daley read from the pulpit [regarding the flag], I think he's afraid of the backlash more than being concerned about Fr. Daley spreading falsehood."

Bishop Lucia has supported the Traditional Latin Mass, offering the first Mass after St. Mary's Shrine in Oswego was designated an oratory and a personal parish dedicated to the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. 

As of June 2025, St. Mary's Shrine is in the care of the Institute of Christ the King, whose mission is described on the Syracuse diocese's website as "to spread the reign of Jesus Christ to all aspects of human life. This is done through the rich liturgical tradition of the Church, through the lives of the saints, and through the Church’s music, art, and architecture."

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