WASHINGTON – A Catholic priest who studied at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary at Saint Mary’s University, and who is assigned to the LaCrosse Diocese, is the subject of a pending article that he frequented online gay cruising sites, visited gay bars, and went home with gay men. A reporter for the Pillar, known journalistically for watchdog church coverage, was asking questions in LaCrosse hierarchy circles based on knowledge of Father Jeffrey Burrill’s below-the-radar excursions while general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. As general secretary Burrill has had a critical oversight role in the Catholic Church’s response clerical sexual abuse and misconduct scandals. In the LaCrosse Diocese, Burrill hold the title of monsignor. Officials at the U.S. Conference in Washington headquarters and the LaCrosse Diocese were scrambling to deal with the Pillar inquiry.
Burrill profile
Burrill holds a 1994 liberal arts degree from Saint Mary’s in Winona, a 1997 bachelor of sacred theology degree from the Gregorian University in Rome , and a 1999 licentiate in ecumenical theology from the Angelicum University in Rome. He was ordained a priest for the La Crosse Diocese in 1998, during the tenure of current bishop William Patrick Callahan, and carried the title of monsignor.
Revelatory journaliSm. The Pillar was founded In 2021 by J.D Flynn, former editor-in-chief chief at the Catholic News AgEncy, and Ed Condon, former chief of the agency’s Washington bureau. The news site says it focused on “smart, faithful, and serious journalism from committed and informed Catholics who love the Church.” Investigative journalism “can help the church to better serve its sacred mission, the salvation of souls,” the Pillar says in its statement of creed.