N.Y. Times Profiles Retired Performer/Director Rod Fontana

LOS ANGELES — Retired performer/director Rod Fontana was profiled Sunday in the New York Times.

The story, "Man of the Flesh to Man of the Cloth," tells of Fontana's transition from adult performer to his declared intention to join the Episcopal ministry.

Writer Sharon Waxman mentions Fontana's history as a would-be New York City policeman who was caught in the city's bankruptcy in the mid 1970s and started performing in adult films, as well as his two stints in the U.S. Army, his marriage to retired performer Liza Harper, his retirement from performing in January and the spiritual awakening of both Fontana and Harper when their daughter had medical problems three years ago.

Fontana was a panelist on the recently cancelled KSEX show "Holy Crap," offering "twisted Bible stories" and discussing matters of faith and morality with guests from the adult industry.

"It's like shooting fish in a barrel," Fontana said of the stories he related from the Old Testament that condoned murder, enslavement, multiple wives and concubines.

Despite the possible problems of pursuing the ministry with a history of performing in adult entertainment, Fontana plans to finish his studies and then start a church to fill the spiritual needs of members of the adult industry.

"I'd like to start it in Chatsworth [Calif.], and we can have services late in the afternoon," Fontana said. "There's no way that porn people are going to get up for church early Sunday morning."

The story can be read here.

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