A longtime priest of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas resigned Tuesday from his new post at St. Michael the Archangel Church in McKinney amid complaints about his past participation with an Internet site for gay priests.

The Rev. Arthur Mallinson "felt [resigning] was in the best interest of the parish, his family and the diocese," said Annette Gonzales Taylor, communications director for the diocese.

Father Mallinson had begun work at the McKinney church only a couple of weeks ago, having been transferred by the diocese from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Lancaster, where he had served for years.

But Father Mallinson's move prompted a widely circulated Internet item relating his history with the Web site and questioning whether he would drive families from the McKinney parish.

The Dallas Diocese did hear from a "small faction" of McKinney parishioners, but many more complaints came from around the country, generated by the Internet posting, Ms. Taylor said.

Father Mallinson resigned in a brief letter to Bishop Kevin Farrell, hoping to prevent further trouble for the McKinney church, Ms. Taylor said.

Father Mallinson's involvement with the site, which is defunct, briefly made news reports in 2002.

He told the diocese he had contributed to the site – which included his photo – when its purpose was to support gay priests in a celibate lifestyle but stopped in 2001 after others began posting pornographic material, Ms. Taylor said.

Celibacy is a requirement of Catholic priests.

Ms. Taylor said Father Mallinson remains a priest in good standing and will be in contact with the dio- cese about another assignment.

"He was a very effective pastor in Lancaster, to our knowledge – very well-liked and respected," she said.