A lesson in forgiveness.

When the Reverend Normand Richard acknowledged using a gay clergy Web site for erotic purposes, parishioners at Holy Family Catholic Church in Old Town, Maine, didn't condemn him--they gave him a standing ovation. "I apologize and ask forgiveness," Richard said at a September 13 service. He later added that he had "remained faithful ... though my sir, has been publicly exposed."

In response to allegations by the Catholic reform group Voice of the Faithful, the diocese of Portland confirmed in September that Richard and two other Maine priests had exchanged sexually explicit E-mails on the St. Sebastian's Angels Web site, which featured names, photos, and E-mail addresses of out, gay priests, pornographic images, and a chat room before it was shut down in 2000.

Richard was sent away for treatment in 1991 after asexual affair with a deacon studying for the priesthood under his supervision.