Writing for the Vatican's L'Osservatore Romano, Fr Radcliffe acknowledged the complexity of applying Church teachings. This is especially challenging for young people trying to accept their sexuality.

"The challenge, for gay people and everyone, is to learn to express love appropriately" Radcliffe wrote. He emphasised respecting the dignity of others as children of God.

"I am convinced of the fundamental wisdom of the Church's teaching" Radcliffe stressed. "But I still do not fully understand how it should be lived by young gay Catholics who accept their sexuality and rightly desire to express their affection."

Radcliffe emphasised the importance of love and respect in the context of faith. He suggested that the Church's teaching is not about denying desire but directing it towards God. Citing St Thomas Aquinas, he noted that desire plays a role in spiritual growth and the return to God.

Shift in Church's understanding

Fr Radcliffe also pointed to what he sees as a shift in the Church's understanding of gay people. He highlighted Pope Francis' view that gay people should be recognised as brothers and sisters who can be blessed. This is opposed to them being seen solely through the lens of sexual acts.

"My intuition is that most gay Catholics in mature, committed relationships usually go beyond a great interest in sex" Radcliffe continued.

He added that mature gay Catholics in committed relationships are often more focused on the virtues of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness", referencing Galatians 5:22.

Fr Radcliffe further noted the struggles of gay people worldwide, reminding the Church of its responsibility to fight for their dignity, especially in countries where they face persecution and even capital punishment.

Radcliffe, 79, a former Master of the Dominican Order, will lead a pre-Synod retreat starting on 30 September.

Sources

Catholic Culture

AP News

CathNews New Zealand

The conference, held from 2 - 4 August, brought together LGBTQ Catholics, clergy and many others with a vested interest to discuss faith and inclusivity within the Church.

According to the conference's website, Outreach "gathers LGBTQ laypeople, clergy, scholars, artists, educators, students and family members to build community, share best practices and worship together".

Outreach is a Catholic LGBTQ resource group founded by Jesuit priest and theologian Father James Martin.

In his homily, Cardinal Gregory acknowledged the complexity of LGBTQ issues within the Church and emphasised the necessity of addressing these matters with "sincerity and genuine compassion".

"This gathering is an opportunity for people to listen to one another in love, knowing full well that we might see another's position as difficult to understand and to accept" Gregory stated.

He expressed concern for the state of the Church and nation, decrying an "increase in violence, the forfeiture of civility in public discourse and the disavowal of once well-known hallowed values".

Gregory noted that the Church and the nation are at a critical juncture, requiring open and respectful dialogue.

The cardinal highlighted that unity within the Church does not mean uniformity but rather a shared spiritual connectedness or "communion" that respects diverse perspectives.

Act of synodality

Gregory's participation marked the first time a cardinal had presided over the conference's Mass which he celebrated at Georgetown's Dahlgren Chapel.

His involvement received support from Pope Francis who, in a note to Father Martin, expressed his spiritual closeness to the event and offered his blessings.

The cardinal praised conference attendees for being "dedicated to the pursuit of our becoming a more inclusive family of faith, welcoming others in spite of our differences".

He said that such a pursuit is an "act of synodality" and that "sincerely and openly speaking and listening to one another under the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit is the way that the Church grows in perfection".

Sources

Catholic News Agency

Outreach

CathNews New Zealand

Is this the same pope who, early in his pontificate, when asked about a gay clergyman who keeps his vows, asked rhetorically, "Who am I to judge?"

Yes, it is.

Part of the confusion about the decision to permit blessings of gay people who are in a relationship stems from the Vatican's own press coverage of the document Fiducia Supplicans when it was promulgated last December.

Vatican News produced the headline: "Doctrinal declaration opens the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations." Couples, not individuals.

When reading the English translation of the document, it clearly states, at Paragraph 11:

… it is necessary that what is blessed corresponds with God's designs written in creation and fully revealed by Christ the Lord.

For this reason, since the Church has always considered only those sexual relations that are lived out within marriage to be morally licit, the Church does not have the power to confer its liturgical blessing when that would somehow offer a form of moral legitimacy to a union that presumes to be a marriage or to an extra-marital sexual practice.

But the very next paragraph sets the stage for the pastoral application of the doctrinal principle, stating, "One must also avoid the risk of reducing the meaning of blessings to this point of view alone. …

"Indeed, there is the danger that a pastoral gesture that is so beloved and widespread will be subjected to too many moral prerequisites, which, under the claim of control, could overshadow the unconditional power of God's love that forms the basis for the gesture of blessing."

This was the heart of the document: God's unconditional love "forms the basis for the gesture of blessing."

The pope was indicating that a pastor, charged with helping all persons develop and deepen their relationship with God, can impart a blessing on persons whose situation is, in the eyes of the church, irregular.

"The shift Francis intends is, at once, less exact and more profound than a doctrinal shift," I wrote at the time. "What Francis has been trying to achieve for many years is to relocate the place of doctrine within the magisterium of the church, specifically to insist that doctrine serve the good of souls, not the other way round."

The issue of gay seminarians is entirely different from that of blessing gay unions: No doctrinal issues are involved.

So long as a seminarian is celibate, and has maturely integrated his celibacy into his life, it should not matter if he is straight or gay.

We do not have a transcript of what the pope said to the Italian bishops and, especially, what question prompted him to say what he did.

There have been instances of seminaries with a gay subculture that was destructive of the formation the seminary existed to impart.

The fact that the pope may have used a vulgar Italian word, frociaggine — translated as "queerness" in most media accounts but I suspect "campiness" is closer to what was meant — when discussing the subject suggests he might have had in mind precisely such a situation.

The pope has now apologised for using the term.

The idea that the pope has suddenly revealed his hidden bigotry towards gay persons, which seems to be the consensus on social media, is ridiculous.

Nothing about this man or his papacy suggests he is bigoted towards anyone.

Whence, then, this ambivalence in the pope's statements?

How did he go from "Who am I to judge?" to this?

It has to do with the inherent conflict of his position as pope.

He is the universal pastor of the church and he is the defender of Christian doctrine.

He wants to help people grow closer to God, and knows that accompanying them, not judging them, is the best way to achieve that. He also believes what the church teaches.

It is this last point that the activists on both sides forget. Continue reading

• Michael Sean Winters is the author of Left At the Altar: How Democrats Lost The Catholics And How Catholics Can Save The Democrats (Basic Books, 2008).

He "never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended" says Holy See press office chief Matteo Bruni.

The remarks are at odds with the pope's track record to date.

He has made outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics a hallmark of his papacy and has long insisted there was "room for everyone" in the Catholic Church.

Not quite closed

Bruni said the pope's comments were delivered behind closed doors at a meeting with Italian bishops on May 20.

Italian media on Monday claimed unnamed Italian bishops said Pope Francis jokingly used the Italian term "faggotness" during the meeting.

They said he used the term when reaffirming the Vatican's ban on allowing gay men to enter seminaries or be ordained priests.

But Brunei says Francis "never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who were offended by the use of a term that was reported by others".

LGBTQ+ advocates offended

Advocates for greater inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQ+ Catholics are upset.

The offensive slur is bad enough.

But "what is damaging is the institutional church's insistence on ‘banning' gay men from the priesthood as if we all do not know (and minister alongside) many gifted, celibate, gay priests".

So said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, chair of the religious studies department at Manhattan College.

She added "The LGBTQ community seems to be a constant target of offhand, off the cuff ‘mistakes' from people in the Vatican, including the pope, who should know better".

Comments taken out of context

Francis remarks were taken out of context says the vice president of the Italian Bishops' Conference.

He is accusing the leaker of using the comments to divide.

"The pope is not homophobic and never was" said Bishop Francesco Savino of the southern Italian Diocese of Cassano all'Jonio.

He denied that, in his conversation with the Italian bishops on May 20, Pope Francis gave a categorical "no" to the entry of homosexuals to the seminary.

"There is not an a priori 'no' to them" he said.

"His true concern is the serenity of all. The pope wanted to say that the candidates [for the priesthood and entry to the seminary], whether homosexual or heterosexual, should be capable of living well their promises with respect to obedience, poverty and chastity; to love with a full heart and empty hands."

Source

• Vatican News
• AP News
• America

In a letter dated April 30 Francis commended Drachma Parents, an organisation supporting LGBTQ Catholics, for their efforts. He described their work as "very beautiful and good".

In their initial letter to the pope on April 23, Drachma Parents voiced concerns that the Vatican's document, titled Dignitas Infinita, could alienate transgender Catholics and their families. They highlighted potential difficulties remaining in the church and criticised the document's understanding of gender complexities, contrasting it with the pope's inclusive approach.

Grave violations

The Vatican's document, released on April 8, broadens the church's definition of "grave violations" to include issues beyond sexual ethics. It addresses gender-affirming surgery and gender theory alongside topics like war, poverty and sexual abuse.

Drachma Parents raised several criticisms in the letter to Francis, including:

• Concerns over possible rise in homelessness among transgender youth
• Potential increase in hate speech, discrimination and violence
• Moral equivalence drawn between medical interventions for transgender individuals and other grave violations
• Failure to acknowledge transgender persons' pursuit of physical and mental integrity
• Lack of scientific or theological studies cited within the Vatican document

The letter also called for an international symposium on sexual and gender diversity involving LGBTQ individuals, their parents, researchers and theologians.

Intrinsically disordered

Joseanne Peregin, a founding member of Drachma Parents, expressed hope that the document would clarify language surrounding LGBTQ issues. However, she fears it may instead alienate transgender individuals and their families.

In particular, Peregin said the church's use of the phrase "intrinsically disordered" to describe same-sex relations "creates a ripple effect among many millions of faithful because the LGBTQ reality is put in a negative framework".

Drachma Parents viewed the pope's "open heart" response positively.

The group remains committed to supporting LGBTQ Catholics and fostering dialogue with the Church.

"We are determined to continue in our mission to support other parents and continue building a bridge between the LGBTQ community and our Church" the Drachma Parents' letter concludes. "Yes, we still call it 'our Church'."

The National Catholic Reporter examined the correspondence between the pope and Drachma Parents. Drachma has requested that the full contents of Francis' response be kept private.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter

The Malta Independent

CathNews New Zealand

The have grappled with what it means to balance having a pope who literally and figuratively embraces their community while approving documents that seem to call their very dignity into question.

That reality is playing out again today, with the release of the Vatican declaration "Dignitas Infinita,".

Dignitas Infinita is a 12,000-word treatise articulating previous church teaching on a number of issues related to human dignity.

Many Vatican analysts point out that rather than presenting new teaching, "Dignitas Infinita" more or less summarises existing Church doctrine.

It touches on a number of issues related to human dignity, including war, poverty, sex abuse and human trafficking.

The document, which has been in the works for the past five years, cites other popes and Vatican documents.

It also tries to synthesise the thoughts of Pope Francis.

The whiplash striking LGBTQ Catholics

The whiplash that accompanies being a Catholic and member of the LGBTQ community today is present even within this single document.

That's because the sections that touch most closely on LGBTQ issues actually include a couple of bright spots - before offering strong condemnations of "gender theory" and "sex change" surgeries.

What does the new declaration say?

First, "Dignitas Infinita" reiterates church teaching that:

"every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, while ‘every sign of unjust discrimination' is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression and violence."

Then it goes a step further, condemning laws that criminalise homosexuality, stating:

"it should be denounced as contrary to human dignity the fact that, in some places, not a few people are imprisoned, tortured, and even deprived of the good of life solely because of their sexual orientation."

For years, LGBTQ activists had urged Pope Francis to speak out against laws that criminalise homosexuality, particularly statutes and bills in some African countries that had the support of local bishops.

Francis took this step last year, becoming the first pope to condemn laws in at least 67 countries that criminalise homosexuality.

Now the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has further bolstered the notion that Catholics should not support these kinds of prohibitions.

At a press conference following the release of the document, Cardinal Víctor Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, described it as "painful" to learn that some Catholics support laws criminalising homosexuality.

He said "we do not agree with criminalisation."

James Martin, S.J., the founder of Outreach, said in a statement that he is "grateful that the Vatican has reiterated its official condemnation of every kind of violence against LGBTQ people, including imprisonment and execution.

"That cannot be repeated too often as an offense against human dignity.

"The LGBTQ person, like everyone else, has infinite dignity."

The document is also notable for what it doesn't contain.

These are, namely, some of the harsher language present in an earlier Vatican document about gender identity - even some of the phrases spoken by Pope Francis himself around this topic.

But those omissions will probably offer little comfort to the transgender Catholic community and their families and allies, who will undoubtedly be hurt by what is included. Read more

• Michael J. O'Loughlin is a journalist, author, commentator, and speaker who covers religion and politics with a particular focus on the Catholic Church. He is the executive director of Outreach, an LGBTQ Catholic resource.

The synthesis report summarises synodal discussions about how a synodal Church's ministries and structures can give a wider role for laity which is more in line with the vision of Vatican II.

Big issues discussed at the synod were identified in its two-year lead-up, and besides reporting on the past month, the report also lays the foundation for the second part of the Synod scheduled for October 2024.

At the time of CathNews publication, the report was only available in Italian!

• Note: The report is now available in English as a PDF document.

The synthesis report

The synthesis report outlines key proposals discussed between some 450 participants from around the world.

It covers off areas of convergence, matters for consideration and proposals that are expected to set the stage for further debate throughout the year ahead of next year's assembly.

For the first time ever at a Synod of Bishops, voting members included lay women, laymen and other non-bishops.

Voting on the document was taken paragraph by paragraph on Saturday.

A two-thirds majority vote threshold was set for passing each paragraph.

Although the report makes 81 proposals, many are open-ended or general.

Further theological or canonical study, evaluation or consideration is called for at least 20 times.

Yes and No votes

More than 80 proposals were approved in the synod vote.

These include establishing a new "baptismal ministry of listening and accompaniment," initiating discernment processes for decentralising the Church and giving lectors a preaching ministry.

The most 'no' votes - accounting for about a fifth of the delegates - were given to two primary paragraphs addressing the possibility of women deacons.

One passed by a vote of 277-69; the other by 279-67.

"That means that the resistance [to women's leadership] is not so great as people have thought" the Vatican's Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich said.

A paragraph addressing the question of clerical celibacy also received substantial No votes, but passed at 291-55.

Women

The synthesis report does not call immediately for the ordination of women as deacons. Nor does it mention calls for priestly ordination for women.

It does include however, a "clear request" from the assembly that women's contributions "would be recognised and valued, and that their pastoral leadership increased in all areas."

The synthesis report also questions how the Church can include more women in existing ministries.

"If new ministries are required, who should discern these, at what levels and in what ways?" it asks.

The Church must address employment injustices and unfair remuneration for women in the church "especially for women in consecrated life."

Liturgical text and church document reviews will ensure language is considerate to both men and women and draws more widely on women's experience.

Archbishop Paul Martin and Fr James Martin SJ in their Synod group.

LGBTQ Catholics

The report seemed to largely glosses over the tensions that emerged over how the Church should respond to LGBTQ Catholics.

Jesuit Fr James Martin, editor of the LGBTQ Catholic publication Outreach, says he was "disappointed but not surprised" by the result for LGBTQ Catholics.

"There were widely diverging views on the topic," says Martin, who was a synod voting member.

"I wish however that some of those discussions, which were frank and open, had been captured in the final synthesis."

It is a point emphasised by Cardinal Blaise Cupich in a conversation with America Magazine.

No one should feel excluded and we have to get to know people, Cupich said.

However he admitted that while trying to pick up on what people said perhaps the document could have expressed the nuances a little better.

Cupich said there was explicit reference to LGBTQ issues in the groups he was in and the lack of explicit reference does not mean we're not going to return to it again next year.

He said there was greater discussion about LGBTQ issues than there was about polygamy, yet polygamy was named in the document.

Cardinal Mario Grech says the assembly felt a need to "respect everyone's pace" regarding LGBTQ questions.

"It doesn't mean if your voice is stronger it will prevail."

Clergy abuse

The synthesis report proposes creating further structures to prevent abuse.

These include the possibility of establishing a new body to review abuse cases that does not rely on bishops.

"The appropriateness of assigning the judicial task to another body, to be specified canonically, should be explored."

The report also recommends women receive formation "to enable them to be judges in all canonical processes."

Other key proposals

In a move signalling shift within the Catholic Church, the synod's final document outlines several key proposals aimed at fostering inclusivity and unity among its diverse communities. Among the recommendations:

• The development of "new paradigms" for pastoral engagement with Indigenous communities, emphasizing a collaborative journey rather than actions imposed upon them
• The formation of a "permanent council" comprising leaders from Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, tasked with advising the pope on challenges facing these communities
• An expanded invitation to delegates from other Christian denominations for the October 2024 assembly, in a bid to foster ecumenical dialogue
• A strong expression of desire from the assembly for the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations to establish a common date for the celebration of Easter

Source

• NCR Online
• Catholic News Agency
• America Magazine

A new book, "The Synodal Process Is a Pandora's Box: 100 Questions and Answers," addresses the "serious situation" brought on by the synod, Cardinal Raymond Burke (pictured, centre) says.

Pope Francis is risking confusion and even schism in leading the upcoming Synod on Synodality in Rome, Burke writes in the book's preface.

"Synodality and its adjective, synodal, have become slogans behind which a revolution is at work to change radically the Church's self-understanding, in accord with a contemporary ideology which denies much of what the Church has always taught and practised," he continues.

It should concern all Catholics "who observe the evident and grave harm" that it has brought on the church.

The word synodality, the cardinal added, is "a term which has no history in the doctrine of the Church and for which there is no reasonable definition."

It leads to "confusion and error and their fruit — indeed schism," he says in the preface.

He backs this view citing the German Synodal Path, where church leaders consulted with lay and religious Catholics in Germany between December 2019 and March 2023.

Female ordination and blessing same-sex couples were among the issues the German consultation explored.

"With the imminent Synod on Synodality, it is rightly to be feared that the same confusion and error and division will be visited upon the universal Church. In fact, it has already begun to happen through the preparation of the Synod at the local level," Burke wrote.

The only way to uncover the "ideology at work" within the Vatican and "undertake true reform," was to turn to the "unchanging and unchangeable doctrine and discipline of the church," Burke's preface says.

He entrusted to the Virgin Mary his prayer that "the grave harm which presently threatens the Church be averted."

The synod on synodality

Francis's aims for the synod are to promote inclusivity, transparency and accountability in the Church.

After three years of world-wide consultations with Catholics, bishops and lay Catholics will gather in Rome in October under the rubric of "Synodality: Communion, Participation and Mission."

Agenda items drawn from concerns Catholics raised in diocesan forums include LGBTQ Catholics' inclusion and female leadership.

Those topics have convinced conservative Catholics that the synod will lead to changes in Catholic doctrine on questions of morality and sexuality.

The authors, the publisher and Burke

Co-authors José Antonio Ureta and Julio Loredo de Izcue are South American scholars and activists.

The publisher Tradition, Family and Property says "despite its potentially revolutionary impact, the debate around this synod has been limited primarily to ‘insiders' and the general public knows little about it."

Burke has long been a vocal opponent of Pope Francis's vision for the church.

He and three other cardinals publicly questioned Francis's decision in "Amoris Laetitia" for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist. Burke has also criticised efforts in the church to promote the welcoming of LGBTQ faithful.

Source

• Religion News Service
• America Magazine

The new regulations effectively bar students from engaging in same-sex relationships and activities inconsistent with their assigned birth sex.

Bishop Robert McManus (pictured) of Worcester issued a notification to local diocesan Catholic school leaders in late June. In it he unveiled the policy updates that seek to create a "consistent application" of the church's stance on LGBTQ+ matters across all schools within the diocese.

The policy framework reflects McManus' conviction that the Catholic Church does not have to conform to what he termed "confused notions of secular gender ideology."

The preamble to the new policies asserted that struggles with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria do not alter the fundamental biological fact of an individual's creation by God.

McManus said the new policies align with ideas expressed by Pope Francis who has spoken out against "gender ideology" but has also been seen as more lenient toward the LGBTQ students and community compared to previous Catholic church leaders.

What does it say about our church

However David Palmieri, a longtime Catholic educator and contributing writer at Outreach, criticised the guidelines as distorting the words and ministry of Pope Francis.

"It is misleading and disingenuous to use [the pope's] words in an effort that is so evidently inconsistent with the tenderness of his ‘field hospital' ministry," Palmieri wrote in an email. "What does it say about our church when people are actively hurt by our leaders who quote canon law but not Jesus Christ?"

The new section on sexual orientation deems students "may not advocate, celebrate or express same-sex attraction in such a way as to cause confusion or distraction in the context of Catholic school classes, activities or events."

Other updates to the manual include a section requiring students to practise chastity. Conversely, a new section on bullying and harassment says that no student may be ostracised for "perceived sex, sexual orientation or gender identity."

Schools reject new guidelines

Guillermo Creamer, a member of the Worcester Human Rights Commission and a 2023 mayoral candidate, said the new policies will hurt young gay people who look for support from adults, including religious schools, as he did.

"I was raised Catholic and many of my morals are rooted in true Catholic teachings," Creamer said on Tuesday. "I self-identify as a proud gay man whose foundation comes from my Catholic faith. Bishop McManus has proved yet again that he is disconnected from the teachings of Catholicism and instead has embraced an outdated, hate-filled rhetoric."

However, two single-sex diocesan schools, both run by religious orders, rejected the new guidelines on LGBTQ students. They informed the bishop last week that they would continue to follow earlier rules.

Brother Daniel Skala, general superior of the Xaverian Brothers, and Patricia Chappell who is a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, wrote a joint letter to the bishop. In it they stated that the Worcester schools were acting "in a manner that respects the dignity of all persons."

Bishop McManus ignited controversy last summer when he ruled that the Nativity School, an all-boys secondary school in the diocese, could no longer call itself Catholic after flying Pride and Black Lives Matter flags on campus. The school declined to remove the flags and filed an appeal with the Vatican.

Sources

Outreach

Patch

CathNews New Zealand

The Church has a duty to accompany gay people on a personal path of spirituality, providing that accompaniment is within the framework of the Catholic Church rules, he told reporters on the plane returning to Rome from World Youth Day (WYD) in Portugal.

He made the comment after a reporter reminded him that during WYD he said the Church was open to "everyone, everyone, everyone".

The reporter challenged the sense of that statement about openness when some Catholics, like women and gay people, did not have the same rights and could not receive some sacraments.

That comment seemed to refer to women not being allowed to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders to become priests of the Catholic Church.

It also referenced same-sex couples not being allowed to contract marriage, which is also a sacrament.

"The Church is open to everyone but there are laws that regulate life inside the church," Francis explained to the reporter.

"According to the legislation, they cannot partake in (some) sacraments. This does not mean that it is closed. Each person encounters God in their own way inside the Church."

Ministers in the Catholic Church must accompany everyone with the patience and love of a mother. That includes those who don't conform to the rules, he explained.

Church law

The Catholic Church teaches that women cannot become priests because Jesus chose only men as his apostles.

Neither does the Church allow same-sex marriage or blessings for same-sex couples. Same-sex attraction is not sinful but same-sex acts are, it teaches.

However, Francis supports civil legislation giving same-sex couples rights in areas such as pensions, health insurance and inheritance.

A welcoming Church for everyone

During one WYD event, Francis said the Church has room for everyone - "including those who make mistakes, who fall or struggle".

He then led the crowd in a chant of "Todos, todos, todos!" (Everyone, everyone, everyone!).

"Who among us has not made a moral error at some point in their lives?" he asked.

Since the start of his papacy 10 years ago, Francis has consistently tried to make the Catholic Church more welcoming and less condemning.

He has sought to welcome all people, including members of the LGBT community, while not changing Church teachings which urge people with same-sex attraction to be chaste.

While pushing through a series of reforms, Francis has constantly walked a delicate line between appealing to more liberal believers and upsetting conservatives.

Among these reforms, he has given more roles to women, particularly in high-ranking Vatican positions.

Pope rejuvenated

On the plane, the Pope said he was rejuvenated by what he had seen at WYD Portugal.

About 1.5 million people attended his closing Mass at a park in Lisbon on Sunday.

Francis said he was impressed with both the size of the crowds at WYD and their behaviour.

He also told reporters who asked after his health, that he has been well since his surgery for an abdominal hernia in June.

Source

• US News

Lori's policy is emphasising the need for a compassionate and understanding approach based on Church teaching and revelation.

The archbishop released the 14-page document "Like Every Disciple" in the form of a personal letter.

The letter seeks to offer support and genuine accompaniment to individuals who identify as LGBT or gender nonconforming.

In the introduction to the guidance, Lori highlighted that every disciple is called to a lifelong journey of turning towards the Lord and deepening their relationship with Him.

Lori is stressing the significance of baptism, which marks individuals as beloved sons and daughters of God, forming their truest identity.

Increased LGBT awareness in the Church

The archbishop acknowledged the increased awareness within the Church regarding the experiences of individuals with same-sex attraction or gender discordance, commonly identified as LGBT.

Archbishop Lori emphasised that these individuals, like all human beings, are children of God and members of the Body of Christ, deserving of love and pastoral care.

Lori's guidance emphasises that LGBT ministry should prioritise pastoral accompaniment rather than advocating for changes to Church teaching.

The focus is on fostering a relationship with Christ while upholding the liberating truth about the human person as revealed through Jesus Christ.

The archbishop recognised the polarised discourse surrounding Catholicism and LGBT identities and urged for a different approach.

The main questions he posed were how to offer pastoral accompaniment while remaining faithful to Church teaching on human sexuality and how such accompaniment can lead individuals to a deeper relationship with Christ and the Church.

Six essential characteristics

Lori's guidance focuses on six different "essential characteristics of pastoral accompaniment." These are:

• recognising the reality of our need
• showing compassion, respect and sensitivity
• journeying together in light of our calling
• having a different kind of conversation
• living "rooted in the Church"
• a willingness to "make the long journey"

LGBT Catholics and their allies have given the guidelines mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the guidelines as a step in the right direction while others have criticised them as being too restrictive.

Archbishop Lori writes that the guidelines are "not intended to be a comprehensive manual for LGBT ministry" but rather "a starting point for conversation and reflection." He hopes the guidelines will help "form Christian disciples" among LGBT people and their families.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

Outreach

Alison (pictured) commented in a recent virtual conversation on the website ‘Outreach' in its monthly series of virtual talks ‘Outspoken.'

In the conversation with Fr James Martin, SJ, Alison discussed natural law and conscience, important topics for all Catholics, but especially for LGBTQ Catholics who often face arguments against them using these concepts.

"The notion of natural law is something that is absolutely essential to Christianity," Alison said.

But, he says, we must remember that part of what the Holy Spirit does is make us "participants, on a very small scale, in understanding what creation, which is much more than us, is actually about."

But Alison noted that natural law has, unfortunately, been used in some cases primarily to restrict people, especially LGBTQ people.

However, homosexuality is now seen as what Alison calls a "non-pathological minority variant in the human condition."

And from the moment it becomes clear that some people are bearers of this minority variant, "which is neither good nor bad," their way of being is "going properly to flourish starting with that, instead of in spite of that."

Becoming children of God

Alison also discussed conscience, emphasising that we are becoming children of God rather than mere servants. "I no longer call you servants…but friends," as Jesus says in the Gospel (Jn 15:15).

Alison sees this as a fundamental insight.

We are, all of us, in the process of becoming children of God.

This doesn't mean that we are perfect, but that we can learn to do things wrong and then do things better—much as a child might do under the care of a loving parent.

Alison said love plays a significant role in this process. "Love turns you into who you really are going to be," he says.

In God's eyes, "the ‘you who I'm calling you to be' has to do with how you learn to give yourself away."

Alison also spoke about what it means for LGBTQ people to encounter "discord" with some aspects of church documents and offered pastoral advice about how natural law and conscience can be understood in this context.

Sources

• Outreach

Instead of cataloguing and discussing his past decade's wins and losses, Francis has been speaking of his hopes for the future.

"It's not for me to decide what I've achieved", he told media when questioned.

"The Lord will do the appraisal when he sees fit."

He says certain the criteria for judgment will be drawn from the Gospel of Matthew 25: feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and visiting prisoners.

His eye isn't on death anyway. Yes, he thinks of it often, but "very peacefully" because "it is necessary to remember" that no one lives forever.

A more lively future-focused view is what he's concentrating on right now, he tells media.

It's one involving three hopes: fraternity, tears and smiles

These hopes are encapsulated in a short 10th anniversary "popecast" Vatican News has released about his dreams for the Church, the world and humanity.

"We are all brothers and sisters," he says. We need to make more effort to live like brothers and sisters.

"And to learn not to be afraid to weep and to smile," he said.

"When a person knows how to cry and how to smile, he or she has their feet on the ground and their gaze on the horizon of the future.

"If a person has forgotten how to cry, something is wrong," Francis said.

"And if that person has forgotten how to smile, it's even worse."

The pope's upbeat take on the future continues in other media reports.

The current Synod of Bishops on synodality is important, he tells journalists. He has tried to revitalise the synods, including more voices is an ongoing process.

That includes ensuring women's voices are included.

In past synods, while the input of many was essential, it was for bishops to discern and vote. Ten priests — and occasionally a religious brother — traditionally were elected as full voting members of the synod.

Francis altered this in 2021 when he appointed Xavière Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart as one of the undersecretaries of the synod general secretariat.

This means she is an automatic voting member of the assembly.

"Everyone who participates in the synod will vote," Francis says.

Each participant member "has the right to vote. Whether male or female. Everyone, everyone. That word everyone for me is key."

Everyone, including LGBTQ Catholics "is a child of God and each one seeks and finds God by whatever path he or she can."

He supports the legal rights guaranteed by civil unions for gay couples and others who share a life. Nor should homosexuality be criminalised, he says.

It's sinful like any sexual activity outside of marriage; Francis doesn't think those sins will see a person in hell.

But pastoral outreach to LGBTQ Catholics and accepting "gender ideology," are different, he stresses. Gender ideology is one of the most dangerous ideological colonisations.

Francis also has a horror or war and is deeply concerned for Ukraine.

If he could have anything for his anniversary it would be: "Peace. We need peace".

Source

• OSV News

The bishops of Flanders also published a liturgy for the celebration of homosexual unions.

"In doing so, they are going directly against the Vatican," reported the Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad.

The Vatican clarified in March 2021 that the Catholic Church does not have the power to give liturgical blessings of homosexual unions.

The Flemish bishops say they created the liturgy to make the church more inclusive and welcoming.

The document, titled "Being Pastorally Close to Homosexual Persons: For a welcoming church that excludes no one," was published on 20 September on the website of the bishops' conference of Belgium.

It states that same-sex relationships, which are not considered sacramental marriages by the Catholic Church, can nonetheless be a source of joy and happiness for the couple.

The publication cites "The Joy of Love," the 2016 apostolic exhortation in which Pope Francis wrote that the church needs to accompany families with LGBT members better, so that "those who manifest a homosexual orientation can receive the assistance they need to understand and fully carry out God's will in their lives".

The bishops of the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium also announced that each diocese will appoint a person as "concrete response and fulfilment to the desire to give explicit attention to the situation of homosexual persons, their parents and families in the conduct of policy.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) issued its latest declaration on same-sex blessings on March 15, 2021, in a document known as a Responsum ad dubium ("Response to a question").

In reply to the query, "Does the Church have the power to give the blessing to unions of persons of the same sex?" the CDF answered, "Negative."

The congregation outlined its reasoning in an explanatory note and accompanying commentary.

The Vatican statement, issued with the approval of Pope Francis, sparked protests and open defiance in the German-speaking Catholic world.

German priests and pastoral workers also openly defied the Vatican and conducted blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.

The Belgian prayers were published as Catholic dioceses around the world are finalising reports about listening sessions with lay Catholics, which are part of the pope's synodal process. Bishops in many countries said that the treatment of LGBT Catholics and their families arose in many listening sessions, including some in the United States.

"The hope for a welcoming church expressed itself clearly with the desire to accompany with authenticity LGBTQ+ persons and their families," reads a report published yesterday by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops summarising the listening sessions held throughout the United States.

"In order to become a more welcoming Church, there is a deep need for ongoing discernment of the whole Church on how best to accompany our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters."

Sources

Catholic News Agency

America Magazine

"A ‘selective' church, one of ‘pure blood,' is not Holy Mother Church, but rather a sect," the Pope explained in a handwritten reply to questions from Fr James Martin, a Jesuit priest and founder of Outreach.

This is the crucial line.

From the start of his pontificate, Francis has called for the Church to be like a field hospital, one that opens its doors to everyone on the basis of their faith, not their sexuality.

His use of the phrase "pure blood" is significant because it resists any attempt to impose an ideological purity on the Church as if it were a "sect".

When it comes to LGBTQ Catholics the temptation is often to exclude or reject, but Francis' remarks show this is the very opposite of what it means to be Catholic, which by definition means universal and all-embracing.

For the Pope, the Church of the "pure blood" ends up as an exclusive club.

While critics have accused Francis of advocating a lax approach which does not respect doctrine and tradition, his remarks point to a different approach which is rooted in the nature of God and the words of Jesus.

"God is Father and he does not disown any of his children," the Pope explained in a brief set of remarks which crystallise much of his thinking in this area. "And ‘the style' of God is ‘closeness, mercy and tenderness.' Along this path, you will find God."

It's a simple, yet powerful statement. God's love, Francis points out, is not contingent on an individual's sexual orientation nor is it dependent on the passing of an ideological purity test.

Nothing can stop any individual in their search for God who in turn meets each person where they are. This is at the heart of what Francis said in 2013.

"If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?" he told journalists.

The five words: "Who am I to judge?" did a huge amount to start shifting the "anti-gay" perception of the Church.

One of the distinctive features of the Pope's approach to LGBTQ issues is his refusal to make it a wedge issue in the culture wars nor does he allow the Church's opposition to same-sex marriage to become a "banner" of Catholic identity.

He resists any attempts to frame the issues in terms of a dry "legalism or clerical moralism", seen so often in official Church documents on homosexuality that generally start with a negative. His focus is pastoral and person-centred.

In the latest interview, Francis addresses the question of LGBTQ Catholics who feel rejected by the Church saying they should not see this as a rejection by "the Church" but by certain individuals.

The Pope then goes a step further by suggesting that any rejection of someone on the grounds of sexual orientation ignores the scriptures. Francis cites Jesus' parable of the Wedding Feast where invitations were sent out "to the just, the sinners, the rich and the poor ..." which gives the message that the Kingdom of God is open to all.

The Pope also urges queer Christians who have experienced rejection to read the Acts of the Apostles which shows the "image of the living church", showing that the heart of the Church is not a remote institution that issues condemnations but a living, inclusive community.

Earlier this year, I argued that the Church has slowly begun to change its approach on the issue of LGBTQ Catholics with the 2021-2023 synod process making the historic move to officially include groups such as New Ways Ministry in Church discussions.

The Pope's remarks point to that shift but they also leave open the question: what next? Continue reading

• Christopher Lamb is a British journalist who is the Rome Correspondent for Catholic publication The Tablet. He is a contributor to the Vatican Insider page of La Stampa and a regular commentator for the BBC on Vatican and religious affairs

The pope's comment came in response to a question asked by Jesuit Father James Martin, a prominent catholic priest involved in gay ministry.

Martin posed three questions to the pope for the America magazine's new website for LGBTQ catholics and their families

When asked, "What do you say to an LGBTQ Catholic who has experienced rejection from the church?" the pope replied, "I would have them recognise it not as 'the rejection of the church,' but instead of 'people in the church'."

"The church is a mother and calls together all her children," he emphasised.

A church that is "selective" or makes some pretext about who is "pure," Francis said, "is not the Holy Mother Church, but rather a sect."

When asked what the most important thing LGBTQ people should know about God, Pope Francis responded, "God is Father, and he does not disown any of his children. And 'the style' of God is closeness, mercy and tenderness. Along this path you will find God."

Martin also asked the pope what he would like LGBTQ people to know about the church. The pope responded that they should read the Acts of the Apostles. "There, they will find the image of the living church."

The Catholic Catechism states that homosexual acts are 'intrinsically disordered', and last year Francis approved a decree barring priests from blessing gay couples, declaring that God "cannot bless sin."

Despite this, throughout his nearly decade-long papacy, Francis has repeatedly tried to extend a warmer welcome to LGBTQ persons.

During a speech earlier this year reflecting on the challenges of parenting, the pope went off-script to tell parents not to condemn children with different sexual orientations.

"Never condemn your children," said Francis. He added that parents should accompany such children and "not hide behind an attitude of condemnation."

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• Crux Now

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising (pictured) issued his apology on March 13 at a liturgy celebrating the 20th anniversary of a monthly LGBTQ Mass held in the archdiocese.

Speaking at the Mass at St Paul parish church, the cardinal said: "How many injuries we've caused in the life stories of many people, that touches me.

"I desire an inclusive Church. A Church that includes all who want to walk the way of Jesus."

The 68-year-old prelate, a member of Pope Francis' Council of Cardinal Advisers, also said: "The kingdom of God is to discover that God is Love — in all its dimensions." This included the sexual dimension but was not limited to it, he added.

"All human relationships must be marked by the primacy of Love. Then they can be accepted by God," he said.

Marx commented that a synodal Church means being open, learning and always breaking out anew in faith in the search for the "possibilities of God."

At a gathering after the Mass, Marx expanded, suggesting the "overwhelming majority" of German bishops agreed changes were needed on LGBTQ issues. He said it was a "huge issue" for the global church and is ultimately about "a paradigm shift."

Several German prelates have called publicly for changes in the Church's stance on homosexuality. There have also been similar appeals in neighbouring Austria.

German bishops who have so far publicly voiced support for blessing same-sex unions include Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück, Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen and Bishop Heinrich Timmerervers of Dresden-Meißen.

Bishop Georg Bätzing, the president of the German bishops' conference, called in December 2020 for changes to the section on homosexuality in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This was promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992 as an authoritative guide to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

According to CNA Deutsch, Bätzing said that he believed a change to the Catechism was necessary, expressing openness to blessings of homosexual unions, saying "we need solutions for this."

Sources

Catholic News Agency

New Ways Ministry

Even the US Conference of Catholic Bishops rejects the concept of gender transition.

Trans people also face rebukes from fellow Catholics, which drives them away.

One transgender woman says this results in the church losing not just the transgender person but "parents, children and groups of friends who say this is not the church we want to belong to".

During the past two years, at least six catholic dioceses have issued guidelines discriminating against trans people.

One diocese bars church personnel from using trans people's preferred pronouns reflecting their gender identity.

Objecting to trans-supportive "gender theory," the diocese stipulates "all interactions and policies, parishes, organisations and institutions are to recognise only a person's biological sex". And, as well, people must use toilets and adhere to dress codes associated with their birth gender.

In another diocese, pastors have been told to deny trans, gay and non-binary Catholics the sacraments "unless the person has repented".

"Many of our bishops are anti-science. They are cold and cruel" says a nun who has ministered to trans people. "You can't respect people and deny their existence at the same time".

Occasionally though, a parish shows an entirely different, more welcoming look.

At one parish's annual Pride Mass in support of LGBTQ people, the priest invited a transgender woman to deliver part of the homily.

"We are not disordered, confused or a fad" she said. "We are not trying to defy God, nor to play God".

"By staying visible, not only outside these walls but inside our churches, we change hearts and minds one person at a time".

Another parish observes the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance which commemorates people killed due to anti-trans violence.

"We must always stand up against hatred in all its forms and not allow others' fears (or phobias) to be a reason for hatred" the priest wrote in the parish bulletin.

"Rather, we must continue to learn more about the experience of others and to become more tolerant and accepting of one another".

Grassroots activism on behalf of greater inclusivity will accelerate as more parishes add LGBTQ ministries, one trans woman hopes.

For young trans Catholics, the conflicting approaches of individual churches and clergy can challenge them and their parents.

"A place that had once been a safe haven for me had become a place of danger" one said.

"But since coming out my spirituality has grown. I feel whole for the first time in my life".

His mother, a convert, now has mixed feelings, and a nun who ministered to transgender people for decades says friction over transgender inclusion is likely to intensify.

"There has never been a time in the American church when the catholic hierarchy has had less moral credibility," she said.

"The people in the pews are taking responsibility for doing their own homework and recognising that we are all God's people".

Source

• HuffPost
• Image: America Magazine

Archbishop Franz Jung of Würzburg has publicly declared that priests and other workers in his diocese should not fear any consequences for their sexual orientation.

Jung's declaration came in the wake of the OutInChurch initiative and the Synodal Way's third assembly last week. Both of these saw advances for LGBTQ church workers.

Until now, gay employees who live in pairs have been subject to dismissal by the church. With around 800,000 employees, the Catholic Church is one of the largest employers in Germany.

According to Munich-based broadcaster, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Jung's statement included a personal commitment assuring employees he would not take any labour or disciplinary measures ‘if facts become known that affect the personal lifestyle with regard to partnerships, sexual orientation or the gender identity of individuals'.

The OutInChurch initiative saw 125 LGBTQ church workers publicly come out in Germany calling for non-discrimination. Following this action, the diocese's vicar general, Jürgen Vorndran, gave a verbal commitment that LGBTQ workers would be protected.

Bishop Jung took this further step because implementing Synodal Way's resolution on labour law reforms to protect LGBTQ employees may take a while to complete.

The OutInChurch initiative continues to receive public support from German church leaders. Archbishop Stephan Burger of Freiburg said participants in the initiative would not face sanction and said the church must more greatly respect the lives of LGBTQ people. Ten theologians in that archdiocese issued a statement of support with OutInChurch, as well.

Bishop Ludger Schepers, an auxiliary for the Diocese of Essen who is responsible for the German Bishops' Conference's LGBTQ outreach, lauded OutInChurch. He acknowledged that he knew some of the church workers involved and that their testimonies "affected me greatly, but also made me angry at how carelessly they were treated in the church".

Bishop Jung stated his commitment also applies to those working in Caritas and those working in activities related to the proclamation of the Christian message.

Sources

New Ways Ministry

Persia Digest

According to the German Catholic news agency KNA, Koch made the pledge when he met with the Lesbian and Gay Association of Berlin-Brandenburg (LSVD) representatives.

The archbishop said this was important so that the marginalization and discrimination of the LBGTQ community could be addressed in the church without fear.

Koch said he regarded the double marginalization of Catholic gays — within the Catholic community as well as in the LGBTQ community — as "problematic and painful."

The LSVD had requested the meeting with Koch to look at the contradictions within the Catholic Church. They referred to the solidarity shown toward LGBTQ people in the wake of the Vatican's renewed rejection last March of any church blessing for homosexual couples, KNA reported.

Ulrich Kessler, a member of the board of LSVD, said he had been surprised and thrilled "that the rainbow flags were waving from Catholic Church spires and on church internet pages. It is also pleasing that many church congregations had called out for blessing services."

Koch asked for understanding that, as bishop, "for the sake of the unity of the church, I cannot disregard such a position from Rome."

At the same time, Koch said he was committed "without reservation to award God's blessing to the love and relationship of people."

He pledged that he would continue the discussion, including within the framework of the Synodal Path reform project of the Catholic Church in Germany.

But he said he regarded it as problematic "when church political pressure should be exerted by means of blessing services."

This remark was seen as a reference to an action last May dubbed "Love Wins," when blessing services were held in many Catholic churches around Germany for same-sex and divorced couples in a protest against the Vatican.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter