Church meets in bar, caters to the 'marginalized'

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The pastor of a church meeting in a Florida bar said his congregation is made up of those "marginalized by their respective religions."

Father James Profirio-Bond of the St. Dorothy Catholic Community Church said the congregation has been meeting Sundays at St. Matthew's Tavern in Orlando since the start of December and is made up of about 50 people from diverse backgrounds, including gays and lesbians, the Orlando Sentinel reported Monday.

Profirio-Bond said the congregation, which is independent of the Roman Catholic church, is welcoming to everyone.

"We go for people who have been marginalized by their respective religions because of divorce or sexual orientation," he said. "We are doing exactly what Christ did. Christ didn't stay in the temple. He was out with the people."

Matt Fassl, a member of the church and the owner of the bar, offered his business as a temporary home for the congregation when its usual meeting place, the Wedding Chapel in Winter Park. However, Fassl and Profirio-Bond said the church and bar have proven to be a good fit and may end up sharing a space on a permanent basis.