The meeting, facilitated by Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, centred on the personal testimonies of five individuals about their experiences as transgender and intersex Catholics.

One of the participants, Michael Sennett, a transgender man, shared his experience of being rejected by a priest at the age of eight for requesting to wear a suit instead of a dress during his First Communion.

"I cried because I was convinced God hated me" Sennett said. He spoke of his attempted suicide at 17 and how the support of a Catholic nurse helped him see a path forward in his faith and identity.

Another testimony came from Nicole Santamaria, an intersex woman from El Salvador, who highlighted the invisibility of intersex people, even within the LGBTQ+ community.

Santamaria's own experience of intersexuality and her Catholic faith informs her work with marginalised communities. She believes she is called to serve those often overlooked and misunderstood.

Although academic studies are disputed, it is estimated that about 1.7% of babies are born intersex.

More harm than good

Ray Dever, a retired Catholic deacon and father of a transgender woman, spoke about the struggles faced by transgender Catholics.

Dever said he noticed a "stunning lack of compassion within so much of the church for transgender people". This included people being excluded from the life of the church in many dioceses and parishes. They were also denied sacraments and turned away from Catholic schools.

"It pains me to say this but, right now, I think that we as a church are doing more harm than good in our approach to gender theory and transgender individuals" Dever told the Pope.

While Pope Francis has criticised gender theory, calling it an "ugly ideology" that erases differences, he has also condemned the mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people.

Earlier this year, the Vatican published Dignitas Infinita ("Infinite Dignity") which denounces discrimination based on sexual orientation and warns against gender theory and sex-change intervention.

Sources

America Magazine

CathNews New Zealand

"Attention, from here on high levels of faggotry" read one sign on a motorcycle. A man dressed as Pope Francis held a sign stating "There is too much faggotry in this parade".

"Today Rome is a river of faggotry, not only in its seminaries" read another of the many Francis-faggot-themed posters.

The signs were mocking the Pope's recent use of the term "faggotness" during meetings, which led to his apology last month.

"I can't believe he said that word" said one participant. "I think he knows what it means" he added. "It's not the case he did not know."

The Pope had also reaffirmed the Vatican's ban on gay men entering seminaries and being ordained as priests.

Elly Schlein, leader of Italy's main opposition party, joined the parade and danced on a float. Schlein is a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, contrasting sharply with the stance of Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

Meloni's Brothers of Italy party opposes marriage equality, adoption by gay parents and surrogate pregnancies. Her government has also restricted recognition of parental rights to biological parents in same-sex families.

The Rome LGBTQ+ Pride parade featured various satirical signs, including one targeting Gen. Roberto Vannacci, a new parliament member for the right-wing League party. Vannacci was dismissed from his military position after writing a book deemed offensive to women, gays and Blacks.

"If according to Vannacci the LGBTQIA+ is a minority … he has never met the seminarians of Pope Francis" one sign read.

Just days before Rome's Pride parade, US Jesuit Fr James Martin, who founded the Catholic LGBTQ "Outreach" ministry, met Pope Francis. Martin posted on social media that "the Holy Father said he has known many good, holy and celibate seminarians and priests with homosexual tendencies".

"Once again, he confirmed my ministry with LGBTQ people and showed his openness and love for the LGBTQ community" Martin wrote on June 12.

Sources

AP News

National Catholic Reporter

However, Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who was involved in drafting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, has reinforced Church teaching on LGBTQ+ issues.

Speaking at a press briefing during the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, Schönborn stated that the Pope has the prerogative to modify the catechism.

He cited a precedent in Pope Francis' 2018 revision of the Church's stance on the death penalty.

Pope Francis changed the catechism's language to say that capital punishment is "unacceptable".

LGBTQ+ issues have been a major point of interest during this month's Synod of Bishops.

It is one of the most frequently asked about topics alongside other hot-button issues such as women's priestly ordination and the married priesthood.

In terms of whether there will be further changes to the catechism's language, Schönborn said he does not know.

He added that "the pope is the only one who can decide because he's the one who promulgated the catechism."

The cardinal recommended viewing the text holistically, stressing the importance of respecting all individuals despite their sins.

"Human beings always have the right to be respected, even though they sin, which we all do.

"I personally, you, all of you, we all sin, but we are entitled to be respected; we have a right to be respected" Schönborn said.

Global shift in the Church

Cardinal Schönborn pointed out a shift in the Catholic Church's centre from Europe to the global south.

This included regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Schönborn said what had struck him throughout the synod process was "the fact that Europe is no longer the main centre of the Church."

He noted the Catholic Church's centre had shifted to the global south including regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

He remarked that these regions have more developed continental bishops' conferences and more synodality.

Europe is "lagging behind a bit in the way in which we live synodality among the local churches in Europe. I think we need some stimulus to move forward," Schönborn said.

Sources

Crux

CathNews New Zealand

The group had previously been denounced by both the US Bishops' Conference and the Vatican's doctrinal office for causing confusion on sexual morality among the Catholic faithful.

It's unclear what the topic of the meeting was.

The organisation said in an Oct 17 statement that its controversial co-founder, Sister of Loretto Jeannine Gramick, thanked the Holy Father for "his openness to blessing same-sex unions, as well as for his opposition to the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ people in civil society."

None of the Holy Father's comments in the meeting were reported in the organisation's statement. CNA asked the organisation what was discussed in the meeting but did not receive a response before publication.

Read More

The Pope's compassionate remarks were unveiled through Vatican media on Tuesday, following a podcast where Francis engaged with young people through audio messages in preparation for World Youth Day (WYD) in Portugal.

Among the voices heard was Giona, a young Italian in their early twenties who expressed the inner conflict arising from their Catholic faith and transgender identity.

Responding to Giona's sincere message, Pope Francis conveyed a message of acceptance and divine love. He assured Giona that the Lord always walks alongside them regardless of their perceived shortcomings or struggles, offering support and compassion.

"The Lord loves us as we are, this is God's crazy love," Pope Francis affirmed.

The Catholic Church has long advocated for treating members of the LGBT community with respect, compassion and sensitivity while upholding their human rights.

However, the question of whether the Church should adopt a more inclusive stance, such as offering blessings for same-sex unions, remains a deeply sensitive and debated topic.

"Who am I to judge?"

Pope Francis has garnered attention for his welcoming and non-judgmental approach towards the LGBT community. He famously stated "Who am I to judge" when questioned about homosexuality, condemning the criminalisation of LGBT individuals as a sin and injustice.

Simultaneously, the 86-year-old pontiff has upheld the traditional Catholic teaching that views marriage as a lifelong union between a man and a woman. Nevertheless, he supports civil laws that grant same-sex couples rights in areas such as pensions and healthcare.

While Pope Francis' inclusive stance has resonated positively with many, it has also faced resistance from conservative factions within the Church. Nonetheless, the Pope consistently adheres to traditional Catholic teachings, maintaining that same-sex attraction is not sinful but that same-sex acts are.

A world summit of bishops, scheduled for October this year, is expected to delve into discussions surrounding the Church's approach to LGBT individuals, women and divorced Catholics who have remarried outside the Church.

Sources

Reuters

CathNews New Zealand