Please support "Plague" by getting a digital subscription to America: tap or click here!

In this episode of "Plague," Michael O'Loughlin tells the story of David Pais, whose journey exemplifies the experience of many gay Catholics who were personally affected by the AIDS epidemic in the early days. He describes the role his faith played helping him cope with his own diagnosis—and his struggle as he walked away from the church in anger. 

You can learn more about "Plague" at americamag.org/plague.

You can find Mike on Twitter @mikeoloughlin.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices