A Catholic college in Philadelphia said it has fired a part-time professor after learning from a post on his blog that he is gay.



Chestnut Hill College, a private Catholic school, said the Rev. James St. George was terminated after he made "public statements of his involvement in a gay relationship with another man for the past 15 years."



St. George, 45, of Lansdale, was hired by the school in 2009 to teach Bible studies and other subjects. He was to teach courses in theology and justice as well as world religions beginning Tuesday.



St. George confirmed to The Philadelphia Inquirer that he is gay but said he was shocked by the termination, which he learned about Feb. 18.



College officials appeared surprised that St. George belonged to a branch of Catholicism not associated with the Vatican that has different views on gay issues. St. George leads St. Miriam Church in Blue Bell, which is affiliated with the Old Catholic Apostolic Church of America, which vows no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and performs commitment ceremonies for gays and lesbians.



