Pope Francis’ recent “mini-interview” on the topic of LGBTQ Catholics provides some of the building blocks for a re-imagined ministry to gay people. “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 Read more
Pope Francis said he wants LGBTQ Catholics to know that God is a father who “does not disown any of his children.” 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 Read more
A leading German cardinal has made an apology to LGBTQ people for the mistreatment they have been subjected to by the Catholic church. 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 Read more
Trans Catholics in the US say they’re having a hard time retaining their faith. Apart from a small number of individual parishes, transgender people are kept outside the community. 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 Read more
A German bishop has issued a written commitment saying church workers will not be dismissed if they are LGBTQ. 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 Read more
Archbishop Heiner Koch will appoint a pastoral minister as a contact person for the LBGTQ community, the Berlin Archdiocese has announced. 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 Read more
Pope Francis has praised the work of a Jesuit priest who has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ people within the Catholic Church. In the handwritten letter (in Spanish), the pontiff described Father James Martin’s work as imitating the “style of God.” Martin, who carries out his apostolate among the LGBTQ community, read the personalized Read more