Former hostage James Loney is accusing an Ontario Catholic camp he once worked for of closing its doors because of his homosexuality.

The closure of the Ontario Catholic Youth Leadership Camp by the Knights of Columbus Ontario State Council, which finances the camp, was an act of discrimination, Loney told a news conference Tuesday.

James Loney was held hostage for four months in Iraq, where he was an activist with the Christian Peacemaker Teams.
(CBC)

Loney said he and his supporters struggled with the decision to go public with the allegations, but finally decided to come forward.

"We are doing this because we care about the church, we care about young people and we care about the kind of church they are coming into," he said.

But he added, "We can't prove this. This is a concern that we have based on the sequence of events."

Loney claims the council's chairman said during a phone call on March 31, 2006, that concerns had been raised that the camp was promoting a homosexual lifestyle, and made specific reference to Loney. Shortly after, the camp closed.

The phone call apparently happened a week after Loney made national headlines when he revealed his sexual orientation and introduced his partner, Dan Hunt, on television.

Loney's family and Hunt had decided against publicizing the couple's relationship while Loney was being held hostage in Iraq, fearing it could jeopardize his life.

In a written statement, the Knights of Columbus denied Loney's sexual orientation was a factor in its decision to pull funding.

The organization said the camp closed for a review of its mission, vision and administration, and it may reopen next summer.

About 2,200 children typically attend the one-week camp every summer. It began in 1991.

Loney, partner to be honoured

Loney's allegations come the same day he and his partner are to receive the "Fearless" award during a gala ceremony marking Pride Week 2006 in Toronto.

The award, which is also the theme of this year's pride festivities, is for their perseverance during the four-month hostage ordeal.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty will present the award.