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There is a faithful spirit moving through #SpiritDay

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Faith organizations, leaders, and have been getting into the spirit of Spirit Day 2016! Youth ministries, camps, congregations, campus ministries, advocacy organizations, and whole denominations have gone purple today. These organizations are standing in solidary with LGBTQ youth and against bullying.

New Ways Ministry, an LGBTQ Catholic organization, has been reaching out to Catholic schools, and created Catholic school specific banners for students to share on social media. This display of solidarity in religious based schools is especially important for LGBTQ students and/or faculty who may feel alienated by some religious teachings.

Other groups have turned their social media purple, and have asked their congregations to go purple too!

About Spirit Day

Each year, millions of people "go purple" for Spirit Day in a united stand against bullying and to show support for LGBTQ youth. According to a 2015 GLSEN survey, more than half of LGBTQ students report being victimized based on sexual orientation, with a further three quarters of students who report hearing anti-LGBTQ remarks in school. Started in 2010 by high school student Brittany McMillan, Spirit Day now draws the participation of celebrities, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, and individuals around the world, who join together in a united stand against bullying.

Check out glaad.org/spiritday for more about how to stand against bullying and show support for LGBTQ youth. Also follow @GLAAD on Twitter to keep up to date with #spiritday news.

Spirit Day is made possible by the generous support of its presenting partners Target and Wells Fargo, official partners, NBA and WNBA, NFL, Viacom, and WWE, and supporting partners, American Eagle Outfitters, Barilla, Comcast NBCUniversal, Kellogg’s, Kirkland & Ellis, Toyota Financial Services, and Zipcar. The translation of GLAAD’s Spirit Day Resource Kit into multiple languages is made possible by a generous grant from Google supporting GLAAD’s Global Voices Initiative. Global Spirit Day resource kits are presented by Logo’s Global Ally campaign.

Past participants in Spirit Day include the White House, the Empire State Building, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Laverne Cox, Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Shaquille O'Neal, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, The Talk, The Tonight Show, MTV, the NBA, the NFL, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, WWE, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, the Las Vegas Strip, and more.

October 20, 2016

American Catholics Support Marriage Equality Despite Church Position

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Recent statements and polling data have again demonstrated that the Roman Catholic hierarchy is completely out of touch with the beliefs and values of the people they are supposed to represent. A New York Times/CBS News poll conducted between February 8 and 13, 2012 shows that over two-thirds of Catholics believe that gay and lesbian couples deserve some sort of relationship recognition. The poll also found that forty-four percent of Catholics believe that gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry, and that quarter of Catholics support civil unions.

It has been clear for some time now that the Roman Catholic hierarchy is out of step with lay Catholics on a range of social issues, from marriage equality to contraception. This data is in keeping with a poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) who, last month, published a report that compiled data collected in July and August of 2011 about religious affiliation, age, and support for marriage equality. This poll found that support for marriage equality is higher across the board among millennials (those born in the 1980s through the early 2000s), regardless of the official doctrine of their religion. This divide can be seen even among supportive religious groups like Catholics; about 55% of all Catholics and 66% of Catholic millennials support marriage equality.

A recent article in the Washington Post, written by New Ways Ministry Co-Founder Sister Jeannine Gramick and Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry’s executive director, addresses the Catholic case for marriage equality. New Ways Ministry is a member of Equally Blessed, which brings together Catholics who advocate for LGBT inclusion within the church. In their article, Sister Gramick and DeBernardo state that the argument in favor of marriage equality rests not only on the multitudes of changes to the ‘definition of marriage’ that can be seen in the Christian Bible, but also on Catholic social doctrine.

Sister Gramick and DeBernardo write:

Catholic social teaching requires that all people be treated with dignity, regardless of their state in life or their beliefs. It upholds the importance of access to health-care benefits, the protection of children, dignity in end of life choices, and, most importantly, the promotion of stable family units. Marriage equality legislation would be an obvious boon to same-sex couples and their children in each of these areas, yet the bishops are spending millions of dollars opposing it.

They also suggest that this is an issue of civil marriage, sanctioned by the state and not the church. The difference between civil marriage and sacramental or religious marriage is not often specified in polls asking about support for marriage equality, but it is an important distinction.

 Catholics for Equality note that distinguishing between civil marriages, “like you get at city hall,” and marriages within the church made a significant difference in the percentage of Catholics who supported marriage equality in research conducted by PRRI. Without this clarification, that the question was only being asked about civil marriage, PRRI’s numbers were comparable to those seen in the New York Times/CBS News Poll, placing Catholic support for marriage equality at 43%. When the question specified civil marriage, however, support soared to 71%, representing nearly three quarters of those who were asked. The differences seen in support depending on how questions are phrased demonstrates that polling organizations must be careful to be as specific and clear as possible in order to get the most accurate numbers.

GLAAD commends Sister Gramick, Mr. DeBernardo, and all pro-LGBT Catholics for their continued support for marriage equality. We are also pleased to see acknowledgement in the media that a majority of Catholics support equality for LGBT people. The recent polls demonstrate in important, but not often reported disconnect between the position most often presented by representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the beliefs of the church’s followers.

February 15, 2012

From Water to Wine: New Ways Ministry to Hold Symposium for LGBT Catholics

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From March 15 through 17, 2012, LGBT-affirming Catholic organization New Ways Ministry will hold their seventh annual symposium, this year titled “From Water to Wine: Lesbian/Gay Catholics and Relationships.” Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in discussions and group sessions, as well as a daylong retreat. New Ways Ministry’s website expands on the reasons this symposium is necessary:

Relationships are at the heart of lesbian/gay ministry in the Catholic Church.  Many types of relationships impact this ministry:  within families, within parish communities, with the institutional structures of Catholicism, with friends, with society, with one's conscience, with God.

Rooted in our Catholic faith, we believe that the power of relationship is the power to transform people and structures.  As the Gospel story of the wedding miracle at Cana tells us, when Jesus enters into our relationships, they are transformed from ordinary into miraculous, from water to wine.

Notable Catholics are scheduled to speak at the symposium, including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who recently signed his state’s marriage equality bill. Other speakers will include academics and Christian thinkers like Luke Timothy Johnson, who is a Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology at Emory University and Patricia Beatty Jung, Professor of Christian Ethics at Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Missouri. Professor Johnson is the author of numerous books and articles and has made the cover of Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report. Professor Jung is the author of Heterosexism: An Ethical Challenge and Sexual Diversity and Catholicism: Toward the Development of Moral Theology. Also speaking will be Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and the eldest daughter of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. She is a devoted Catholic and the author of Failing America's Faithful: How Today's Churches are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way.

The symposium will be held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. Registration is still open and there are discounts for young adults (under 30 years old) who wish to attend. Attendees can choose to participate in several or all of the events.

New Ways Ministry was founded in 1977 by Sister Jeannine Gramick and Father Robert Nugent as an education ministry of justice and reconciliation for LGBT Catholics. Sister Gramick recently testified in support of marriage equality in Maryland and Francis DeBernardo, the current executive director, has written about LGBT acceptance within the Roman Catholic Church. New Ways Ministry is a member of Equally Blessed, a coalition of Catholic organizations that support the full inclusion of LGBT people within the Catholic Church.

GLAAD encourages anyone in the Baltimore area to attend From Water to Wine if possible and commends New Ways Ministry for their ongoing advocacy on behalf of LGBT Catholics.

March 8, 2012

Vatican Official Offers Hope for LGBT People, Only to Dash Them

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It was reported earlier this week that a top Vatican official voiced support for gay and lesbian couples. Yesterday, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, head of the Pontifical Council for the Family, backtracked from that statement, and blamed the media for "derailing" his words.

On February 4, Archbishop Paglia suggested that countries could find "private law solutions" to help offer protections for unmarried couples, including gay and lesbian couples. However, Archbishop Paglia was sure to strongly voice his opposition to marriage equality. Currently, marriage equality efforts are underway in several states in the United States, as well as national efforts in England and France. Roman Catholic bishops are opposing all of these efforts.

Archbishop Paglia also condemned discrimination, including countries with laws that criminalize LGBT people. He said that gay people “have the same dignity as all of God’s children.”

“In the world there are 20 or 25 countries where homosexuality is a crime,” he said. “I would like the church to fight against all this.”

In reality, 87 countries criminalize LGBT people.

Still, his comments were widely reported, giving hope to the millions of LGBT people and Catholics who already strongly support LGBT people around the world. Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry commented on the evolution, saying:

"Despite the continued intransigence on marriage equality, I think it is important to note that the archbishop’s comments represent a giant step forward in terms of Vatican recognition of same-gender couples."

However, after seeing the reporting and interpretation of his statement, Archbishop Paglia backtracked, stating that the reporting of his statement was much more than a misunderstanding. He went further to say that they were deliberately "derailed". Religion News Service reported his "clarification":

For the archbishop, recognizing that “norms that protect individual rights” can find their place in “existing (legal) systems” is “completely different” from approving same-sex marriage.   

The move to backtrack disappointed several Roman Catholic LGBT advocates. Religion News Service quoted Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director of Dignity USA. While calling Archbishop Paglia's backtracking "disheartening", Duddy-Burke reminded us all that everyday Catholics have the ability to work for protections for LGBT people. Indeed, in the last election, Washington, Maryland, and Maine all granted marriage equality by public referendum, while Minnesota defeated a constitutional amendment that would limit marriage protections. In all these instances, Catholics voted on the side of marriage equality.

Statements and retractions like these have continued to demonstrate how the Roman Catholic hierarchy is out of step with regular, everyday Catholics who support LGBT equality, including marriage equality. GLAAD will continue to highlight Catholics who are working for LGBT equality, both in the church and within the wider society. 

February 8, 2013

What does Pope Benedict's resignation mean for LGBT people?

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The Vatican announced that Pope Benedict will resign due to age and health concerns. This is the first papal resignation in 600 years. The Vatican has said that Benedict will carry out his duties until February 28, with a new pope likely to be elected around Easter, which is March 31 this year, but the timeline for the selection of a new pope is still uncertain.

As this story is still breaking, most of the news will be focused on the details of the resignation. However, news like this tends to make people wonder what sort of change a transition like this might mean in the Roman Catholic Church. LGBT people and allies – many of whom are Catholic – have a particular interest in seeing what direction the church is heading.

The Roman Catholic Church hierarchy has long been an opponent to LGBT equality. Even before Pope Benedict came on the scene, the Vatican was employing the phrase "intrinsically disordered" to refer to LGBT people. In the 2012 election, Roman Catholic bishops led the opposition to marriage equality in Minnesota, Maryland, Washington, and Maine, pouring energy and money into campaigns that ultimately ended in defeat for the anti-gay coalitions, including the bishops.

Is it likely that the cardinals will choose a pro-LGBT pope? Everything is possible, but this seems highly unlikely. The hierarchy tends to reward and promote those who have been particularly successful at opposing LGBT equality. That means that the cardinals, who elect the pope, are more likely to choose someone who carries the same anti-LGBT attitudes and has a history of LGBT oppression.

But, this transitional moment does carry with it a significant opportunity.

It has become increasingly clear that the Roman Catholic leadership has been increasingly out of step with everyday Roman Catholic people on the issue of LGBT equality. According to a 2011 Public Religion Research Institute report:

  • Nearly three-quarters of Catholics favor relationship recognition for same-sex couples, with 43% supporting marriage equality and another 31% supporting civil unions.
  • Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Catholics favor laws that would protect gay and lesbian people against discrimination in the workplace
  • 6-in-10 (60%) Catholics favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt children.
  • Only about 1-in-4 (27%) Catholics who attend church services regularly say their clergy speak about the issue of gay and lesbian people, but nearly two-thirds (63%) of this group say the messages they hear are negative.
  • Compared to other religious groups, Catholics are significantly more likely to give their church poor marks for how it is handling the issue of LGBT people.
  • By a nearly 70%, Catholics overwhelmingly reject the idea that sexual orientation can be changed.
  • A majority of Catholics (56%) believe that sexual relations between two adults of the same gender is not a sin.

There are other Catholic denominations that have taken a more LGBT-inclusive stance, including the North American Old Catholic Church, which recently ordained its first transgender priest. Likewise, a variety of LGBT Catholic organizations continue to provide pastoral care for LGBT people and their allies, change the hierarchy's attitude toward LGBT people, and send an LGBT-affirming Catholic voice.

According to the blog for New Ways Ministry:

We are praying, too, for LGBT Catholics and their families and friends, whose lives were made more difficult living under Benedict’s reign both as pontiff and as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), where he served previously.  For the last three decades, Benedict has been one of the main architects of the Vatican’s policies against LGBT people. New Ways Ministry directly experienced those harsh policies several times over the years…Fortunately, we have survived the many attempts by the Vatican to end our ministry, and, thanks to the support of so many Catholics, we have emerged stronger for it.

Dignity USA released a statement to comment on Benediction resignation:

As members of the Church who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, as well as family members and allies, we call on the Cardinals and the new Pope to enter into a true dialogue with our community. We call for an end to statements that inflict harm on already marginalized people, depict us as less than fully human, and lend credence to those seeking to justify discrimination. We call on our Church not only to embrace but to champion the dignity and equality of all humans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Equally Blessed, a coalition of LGBT Catholic organizations, released the following statement:

With the pope’s impending resignation, the church has an opportunity to turn away from his oppressive policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics, and their families and friends, and develop a new understanding of the ways in which God is at work in the lives of faithful and loving people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We pray for a pope who is willing to listen to and learn from all of God’s people. We pray for a pope who will realize that in promoting discrimination against LGBT people, the church inflicts pain on marginalized people, alienates the faithful and lends moral credibility to reactionary political movements across the globe. 

Change from the Roman Catholic Church is not likely to come from the top, but from the everyday Catholics who worship, pray, tithe, and volunteer their time and effort. As everyday Catholics continue to speak out about LGBT equality, that voice has the opportunity to overshadow the anti-gay messages that come from the hierarchy. As was demonstrated by the 2012 election, in which Catholics voted for equality, everyday people have the power to make a real difference. Now is the time to speak up for long-held values of fairness, grace, compassion, and equality in the eyes of God. 

February 11, 2013

Cardinal Timothy Dolan to LGBT people: I love you, and God loves you

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On Easter morning, Cardinal Timothy Dolan appeared for an interview on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. George Stephanopoulos asked the New York City Archbishop and Chair of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops about the antagonistic relationship between the Roman Catholic hierarchy and LGBT people. Stephanopoulos noted that this week has been a very big week for gay and lesbian people, referring to the Supreme Court hearings on the discriminatory ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ and California’s Proposition 8.

There are a few items that are important to note about this exchange.

First, Cardinal Dolan actually said that God loves gay people. This is not something that we hear from the man. More often, we hear words of condemnation. He called the 2011 bill for New York marriage equality “ominous.” He said that LGBT people are not “qualified” to marry. In the same interview, he compared marriage equality to attempting to marry his mother. Cardinal Dolan called a plea for attention to the plight of homeless LGBT youth who have been kicked out of his home a personal attack.  Yes, throwing in a “God loves you, and I love you too” is too little, too late from a man who has vilified the LGBT community while smiling in front of the media. However, he hasn’t (from my quick search) ever actually uttered those words publically before. This is significant, and should not be missed.

Second, Cardinal Dolan is beloved by the media. He’s smiling. He’s effable. It seems that he knows the reporters intimately well (I once watched an interview in which he said he was looking forward to the host’s home cooking again). Stephanopoulos pushes back on Dolan's statements about the relationship between the Roman Catholic hierarchy, but only so far. He acknowledges the thousands of gay and lesbian couples who wish to raise a family, and hopefully raise them within the Roman Catholic Church. He also challenges Dolan to name specific ways that the hierarchy could improve relations with LGBT people. Stephanopoulos wants to get further than “we have to do better at that.”

Still, Stephanopoulos could have pushed more. He could have asked why nearly three-quarters of American Catholics support marriage equality, despite the opposition of the hierarchy. He could have asked why LGBT affirming parishes, like Most Holy Redeemer in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, or even St. Francis Xavier in his own New York City, face such public and decisive crackdown. He could have asked if the Roman Catholic hierarchy has more to offer LGBT Catholics besides the celibacy (and practically ex-gay group) Courage. He could have asked why the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has been so public about their campaign on so-called ‘religious liberty’ while continuing to bully and persecute its own flock when the flock disagrees with the hierarchy.

A final note on this Easter morning. Early on in the interview, Dolan refers to his desire to talk to the LGBT people who don't feel comfortable in the Roman Catholic Church. GLAAD reminds Cardinal Dolan that there are hundreds of Catholics, who are parts of several organizations that want to be in conversation with the Roman Catholic hierarchy. If Cardinal Dolan really wants to have such a dialog, he should be in contact with Dignity, New Ways Ministry, Fortunate Families, Call to Action, Rainbow Sash, or several of the other LGBT Catholic organizations who have been excluded from the leadership of the church. Dolan could also help the church to address LGBT youth homelessness, working with shelters like the Ali Forney Center. There are many actions that Cardinal Dolan could take, and there will be LGBT and Catholic organizations that are open to conversation and cooperation with him.

"We recognize that while some may feel Dolan's words ring hollow, for many Catholics this is the first time a high-ranking church official has echoed their own sentiments about God loving their LGBT friends, family and neighbors," said GLAAD's Director of News and Faith Initiatives. "Recognition of that love is a necessary first step on the road to supporting equality because of faith, not in spite of it, and it's a step that a majority of Catholics have taken already."

March 31, 2013

Faith organizations get into the spirit of #SpiritDay

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This Thursday, congregations, faith leaders, and religious organizations will join millions of people to go purple for Spirit Day.

The Naming Project, a faith-based camp program for LGBTQ youth, has turned its logo purple on Facebook and encouraged its campers to go purple as well. Already several campers have turned their Facebook profile purple using the Spirit Day app.

The Religious Institute, who already has a great purple logo, is reaching out on social media, encouraging everyone who uses their resources to go purple for Spirit Day.

Catholic organizations are definitely getting into the spirit of Spirit Day! New Ways Ministry has turned its logo purple and added the Spirit Day Banner to the top of its Facebook page. Dignity USA has posted to its Facebook page, encouraging LGBT Catholics and their allies to go purple. Fortunate Families posted about Spirit Day on its Facebook page.

SOJOURN: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity is showing its spirit on Facebook page. We are also sending out a letter to schools to let them know of our experience as bully prevention facilitators and sharing the resource we have to make school a safer place and teaching students to become allies.

The Metropolitan Community Church, the country's oldest LGBT denomination, has placed a link to Spirit Day on the denomination's web site, encouraging all of its members to wear purple.

More Light Presbyterians created a graphic on their Facebook page, which reads, "This person supports LGBTQ youth and will speak out against homophobia, transphobia, and bullying." They also published a thoughtful post on their blog, entitled "Spirit Day 2013: Bring All You Are to the Table."

God is breaking down categories and barriers between people and creating a new humanity in which all the particularities of how we identify ourselves—racial, e

thnic, gender, class—are accepted and blessed as they contribute to the expanding wonder and diversity of a human race created in God’s image. The new humanity that gathers with Jesus at his table come together as we are, secure in the knowledge that it is good and right to be who we are and to celebrate our identity in its myriad fullness. It is not only just OK to be gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender. It is good to be that way, because that is the way God has made you. And the Christian community, the world community, needs you to bring the totality of your being—including and maybe especially your sexual and gender identity—to the table.

Another Presbyterian organization, Presbyterian Welcome, has sent staff members to work with two congregational youth groups in New Jersey, talk about Spirit Day and how youth groups can be safer places for LGBTQ teens.

ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation posted graphics on their website, wishing everyone a "Happy Spirit Month," noting that October contains four major holidays central to the LGBT Lutheran movement: National Coming Out Day on October 11, Spirit Day on October 17, Ally Week from October 22-25 and Reformation Sunday on October 27.

There's still time to sign your congregation or faith-based organization up for Spirit Day. Click here to join millions of people going purple to stand against bullying and to support LGBT youth.

October 13, 2013

Ministry supports Catholic LGBT individuals and allies

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Even amid the sweeping reforms of Pope Francis, change comes slow to a two thousand year old institution like the Roman Catholic Church. Recently, a disturbing trend has arisen in which LGBT teachers, often described as "beloved" by their students, are fired simply for being in a devoted relationship. Kristen Ostendorf, an English and religion teacher at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minn., lost her job after acknowledging the fact that she was in a loving relation ship with another woman. Trish Cameron, a fifth-grade teacher at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Moorhead, Minn. who identifies as straight was fired after voicing her support of marriage equality in private. Ms. Cameron asserts that her opinions remain out of the classroom.

In support of their colleagues and educators, teachers and students have protested and written petitions in the goal of getting the teachers rehired. Yet, unfortunately, when parochial schools cite religious freedom as a justification for homophobia, they stand on firm legal ground. Private schools are able to terminate the employment of teachers and staff without much explanation if they belive that the individual does not live up to their standard of morality.

That's why organizations like New Ways Ministry's new campaign to stand with fired LGBT emplyees is so important.  New Ways Ministry attempts to change the culture of the church, so that it as a body not only respects LGBT individuals, but includes them as full members. When LGBT employess and LGBT allies are fired from their job, a culture of discrimination is perpetuated in the curch. In their campaign, New Ways Minsitry outlines steps that supporters of LGBT catholic educators can take.

  1. Identify other people in your parish, school, or other institution who support LGBT equality.  Brainstorm with them what might work best locally in your particular situation.
  2. Propose such policies to the various decision-makers in an institution. Don’t just approach the person at the top of the hierarchy (e.g., pastor or principal).  Work with the “middle managers” who affect the decision makers, such as a parish council, a parent-teacher associations, a social justice committee, a diversity task force, or others who have influence.
  3. Collect signatures on a petition to institute a non-discrimination policy to present to the local decision-makers.
  4. Gather testimonies about how such firings reflect negatively on the Church’s image.  Gather these not only from LGBT people, but from other Catholics who disagree with discriminatory employment practices.
  5. Gather testimonies on the spiritual gifts and professional skills of LGBT people from those whose lives are touched by them, such as parents, family members, friends, parishioners, students, colleagues, and alumni.
  6. Develop your arguments around the Catholic ideas of justice and equality. The Catholic social justice tradition protects the rights of workers, it respects differences among people, it promotes the equal treatment of all people, it respects everyone’s inherent human dignity.
  7. If appropriate, work regionally with other parishes, schools, and Catholic institutions in your area so that more than one place will simultaneously adopt such policies.
  8. Contact New Ways Ministry to consult about the particular situation in your community.  We’d be glad to be part of your brainstorming and strategizing.   Our phone number is 301-277-5674.  Our email address is info@NewWaysMinistry.org
  9. Share your successes and setbacks with us so that we can better help others who want to establish such policies.
  10. Share the graphic above with your friends on social media.  You can access it through New Ways Ministry’s Facebook page by clicking here.

New Ways Minstry's work is vital becuase the church, an orginzation which attempt to be an of temporal charity and reconciliation, cannot complete its more eternal ideals without accepting all people into its fold.

Read more about New Ways Ministry on their website

October 25, 2013

Roman Catholic hierarchy affirms lack of understanding and acceptance of LGBT people

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A new document compiled by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church regarding family, gender, and sexuality has greatly disappointed LGBT Catholics and allies.

The 75-page document, called an Instrumentum Laboris, is based on the results of a survey called "The Pastroral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization" sent to over a hundred bishops' conferences around the world. The survey, which revealed the huge gap between the personal views of lay Catholics and official church teachings, reaped much hope of potentially fostering a change in Roman Catholic teachings on LGBT people. Instead, however, the document affirmed the Church's continued opposition.

Marianne Duddy-Burke, who is the Executive Director of DignityUSA, the nation's leading organization of LGBT Catholics and allies, said on the document,

This document was a blow to my stomach…Many Catholics hoped that the upcoming Extraordinary Synod on the Family would be an opportunity for real dialogue with Church leaders on issues that are very important in our day to day life. Instead, what we see is a rigid adherence to existing teaching, and what we hear are complaints that the people of the Church are misinformed or uneducated. This is a gross simplification and incredibly insulting.

Some mainstream media outlets viewed the document as an ever so small sign that the Church is softening its views on LGBT people in light of Pope Francis' "Who am I to judge?" comment last year regarding being gay. A recent CNN article, for example, states,

The document firmly rejects gay marriage, for instance, but also said Catholics leaders, “are trying to find a balance between the Church’s teaching on the family and a respectful, non-judgmental attitude towards people living in such unions.”

“A distinction must be made,” the Instrumentum Laboris says, “between those who have made a personal, and often painful, choice and live that choice discreetly so as not to give scandal to others, and those whose behavior promotes and actively – often aggressively – calls attention to it.”

For many LGBT Catholics, however, these marginal signs of change amongst an overwhelming message of exclusion is not convincing, especially when considering the Church's recent actions. Last week, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed "great concern" to the President's plan on issuing an Executive Order to protect LGBT people from discrimination. In addition, earlier this month, a meeting in New Orleans reaffirmed the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' opposition to marriage equality.

The bottom line comes down to the fact that LGBT Catholics and their allies want to see tangible actions from the Vatican proving a shift in views on LGBT equality and inclusion, as opposed to a slight "softening" of tone. That has not yet happened.

Regarding issues specific to LGBT Catholics and their families, Duddy-Burke said on the recent document,

The instrumentum laboris is rooted in the same sense of heteronormativity that has characterized official Church teaching for decades. It fails to show any acknowledgement of the profound love and commitment shared by many same-sex couples, minimizes the realities of LGBT people raising children, and fails to offer any hope to families who love their LGBT members unconditionally, but struggle with Church teachings that are too often demeaning. Furthermore, the bishops continue to show a severe lack of understanding of transgender identities. If they begin to truly listening to our transgender kin, they will learn much.

The hope that so many people have felt in the era of Pope Francis will be greatly diminished by this document. It is clear that the Vatican is seeing the great challenge for the Synod as ‘how do we better get our message out?’ The real question they should be asking is, ‘What do the people of God need from their leaders, and how do we better provide it?’ Unfortunately, the humility such a question entails is entirely lacking here.

An article by New Ways Ministry, a Catholic ministry that advocates LGBT justice, expresses concern over the fundamental lack of understanding of the Catholic bishop leaders:

More harmful than the specific remarks on lesbian and gay people, though, are the remarks that the reason that Catholics don’t agree with church teaching is because they have succumbed to a secular mindset.  We’ve heard that remark time and again from U.S. bishops, especially in the context of same-gender marriage, but it is simply not the whole truth.  It’s very convenient to have a scapegoat. It’s much more challenging to face up to the reality that faithful Catholics are calling for change.

Check out the full Instrumentum Laboris here.

 

June 27, 2014

Transgender woman seeks to become Roman Catholic nun and pens book "Why God Doesn't Hate You"

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A transgender woman, Tia Pesando, hopes to become a Roman Catholic nun in London, Ontario. If she is successful in becoming a nun, she will be the first openly trans person to do so in the Catholic Church, The Advocate said.

CTV News reported that Pesando – whom in addition to identifying as transgender, is intersex, and "refers to herself as the often controversial term 'hermaphrodite,'" according to The Advocate– felt her spiritual calling from God about two years ago. "I'm very convinced of the reality of God and the importance of such a calling," she said.

Despite opposing views, Pesando feels that her faith supports love and acceptance for people who are transgender like her. To explain her perspective, she wrote a book called Why God Doesn't Hate You, which uses biblical evidence and is currently available on Amazon. Regarding her book, Pesando told London Community News,

From a theological perspective, I think I have a solid argument…People are leaving the church because they feel the God of love has betrayed them, and betrayal is one of the worst feelings you can imagine. So I am reaching out to people saying this is what the Bible actually says.

Pesando realizes that with the church's general climate of lacking acceptance and love for transgender people, resistance to Pesando's dream of becoming a nun is a realistic possibility. She said,

The Catholic Church is very good at maintaining a cohesion of hierarchy and if there was an order from someone higher up that prevented me, eventually it would come down to me having to appeal to the Pope.

CTV News reported that "A Carolinian convent outside of Kitchener has said it won’t be able to accommodate someone like Pesando."

Despite the potential opposition, however, Pesando feels she has had a "positive start" so far. She has already become a consecrated maiden committed to a life of chastity, poverty, and obedience; and when she first decided she wanted to become a nun, she received her priest's blessing. Pesando will begin her training in August.

So far the Catholic Church has not commented on the matter.

Outlets like CTV News have been reporting that if Pesando indeed becomes a nun, she would be the first transgender nun in the world. As New Ways Ministry points out, however, this statement cannot be confirmed. The fact remains, though, that regardless of whether or not she is first, Pesando's public exposure as an openly transgender nun would be huge step for acceptance of transgender Catholics.

While New Ways Ministry provides positive, nuanced coverage of Pesando and in general is a powerful and affirmative force as an LGBT Catholic advocacy organization, the language in the beginning of its article assumes that Pesando does not identify as "only" a woman. The article stated,

One of the places where Catholicism and gender are most strongly inscribed together is the area of vowed religious life.  There are communities for only men and other communities for only women.  What if your gender doesn’t fit into this binary?

In reality, media coverage of Pesando has not indicated whether or not she identifies as non-binary. Assuming that she is outside the gender binary, which would mean she is not only a man or only a woman, indicates that transgender women cannot be fully women. Even though Pesando is intersex, if she identifies as a woman, she is a woman.

July 16, 2014

Roman Catholic institutions don't stop firing LGBT employees

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The number of employees and volunteers fired from Roman Catholic parishes, schools, and organizations continues to roll unchecked. GLAAD has previously brought you the stories of Carla Hale, Nicholas Coppola, Mark Zmuda, Marla Krolikowskii, and more. And there have been even more terminations that haven't received as much widespread attention.

That streak continues in St. Louis, Missouri, and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

At the Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, Olivia Reichert and Christina Gambaro were fired after the school got a copy of their mortgage application, reflecting the fact that they had gotten married in New York over the summer.

And in Bloomfield Hills, a suburb of Detroit, Barbara Webb was fired before the semester began because of what the school called her "non-traditional" pregnancy. Webb is in a committed relationship with another woman.

There is an organized response for Reichert and Gambaro. A group, calling itself Chargers Allies has begun to build a Facebook and a web presence right now.  Religion News Service reports:

Chargers Allies member Coco Fernandez, 22, an alumna of the school who now lives in Chicago, said she wants all who work and attend Cor Jesu to “feel welcomed and accepted as who they are, regardless of sexual orientation.”

Fernandez also said Reichert had been one of her favorite teachers at the school.

“She was a great role model for the girls. She was always kind,” Fernandez said.

“We are being taught to be open and accepting of everybody, and yet teachers are being fired because of their sexual orientation,” Fernandez said when speaking about her education at Cor Jesu.

In a Facebook post, Gambaro wrote that although alumnae support for her and her wife had been overwhelming, “the law is not on our side, nor is the church, so we have no ground to stand on.”

Often, when Catholic employees are fired, they receive local attention, but there has been little widespread media attention on the ongoing epidemic of firings from Roman Catholic institutions. New Ways Ministry is compiling a list of known firings since 2008. This resource is helpful to understand how widespread the internal persecution is against LGBT people in the Roman Catholic Church. Additionally, there is a wide gap between the Roman Catholic hierarchy, who largely has been driving the firings, and everyday Catholic people, who widely support LGBT equality.

GLAAD encourages media to take a look at these individual stories, and place them in the wider context of the Roman Catholic hierarchy opposing LGBT equality. 

September 4, 2014

Roman Catholic Bishop says LGBT church worker firings need to be "rectified;" Pro-LGBT ministry responds

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A pro-LGBT Catholic ministry hopes to hear a member of the church hierarchy speak positivity about the LGBT community. But, aside from Pope Francis' "Who am I to judge" comment last summer, that had never happened as bluntly as it did last Thursday.

Bob Shine is a Catholic student at Boston College who writes for the New Ways Ministry, a pro-LGBT ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics.

"I am Catholic and my relationship with Jesus impels me to institute in this world structures that are just and inclusive," Shine told GLAAD.

Last Thursday, Shine attended a panel of journalists and academics on September 11th discussing the papacy of Pope Francis at the launch event for Crux, the Boston Globe's new Catholic-focused website. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston was one of the panelists.

“Pope Francis challenges us to overcome our indifference in our own lives,” O'Malley said.

Shine wanted to ask O'Malley about the recent firings within the church community where, in 2014 alone, over twenty teachers, deans, music directors, etc. have been fired due to their sexual orientation or connection with an LGBT issue.

O'Malley had been saying in the panel that the church is about caring and empathy. His statement was tested when he answered Shine's question:

 "Given Pope Francis’ emphasis on mercy and welcome, can we expect improved pastoral care and inclusion for those who are LGBT, especially when almost 20 US church workers have been fired in 2014 for their sexual orientation, gender, or marital status?"

O'Malley responded saying, “I think the Holy Father’s notion of mercy and inclusion is going to make a big difference in the way that the church responds to and ministers to people of homosexual orientation. The Holy Father is talking about reaching out to the periphery and very often this is a group that is on the periphery. It is not necessarily that the church is going to change doctrine, but, as somebody said, the Holy Father hasn’t changed the lyrics, but he’s changed the melody. I think the context of love and mercy and community is the context in which all of the church’s teachings must be presented, including the more difficult ones. The same could be said about abortion and so many others. It is only when people realize that we love them that they will be open to hear the truth we want to share with them.”

O'Malley seemed to dodge Shine's specific question, but Shine was satisfied with the answer.

"It's not that often that you get someone of his prominence in the church, in the official church structure, saying such a forcefully inclusive statement," Shine said.

Shine went up to O'Malley after the panel to thank him for his comment. The cardinal told Shine that convincing people that they are loved is more important than talking about the Ten Commandments. Shine questioned him about this. He said it's been difficult to convince LGBT Catholics and their allies of this love when so many church workers have had LGBT-related employment disputes and firings within Catholic schools and parishes.

Bluntly, the cardinal replied that this firing trend "needs to be rectified."

Shine was surprised by the cardinal's blunt statement but did not press him any further.

"I am not going to speculate on what the cardinal means. At a base level, I think it's simply an admission that firing church workers because of their sexual orientation or marital status or gender identity is problematic," Shine said. "It seems like the first time we know of that a bishop, never mind one who is a close papal advisor, has come out and said there's a problem here with these firings. Previous instances of episcopal involvement in these employment disputes has been either affirming the firings, some level of saying I don't have the power to get involved or remaining silent and deflecting the issue. So, this is, even if it was not fleshed out, this is a really important statement to have on the record."

Shine said the cardinal's statement should not, however, represent the overall tone of the church hierarchy toward LGBT people.

"I think O'Malley's comments are quite indicative of the change of tone coming from Pope Francis and those in the Vatican who are working with him to reach out to margins including the LGBT community with his "Who am I to judge?" statement and several other positive statements or actions. In terms of the American hierarchy, I don't think it indicates a change of tone, and I think Cardinal O'Malley is hopefully a trend setter for the rest of the bishops in the US," Shine said.

Shine mentioned New Orleans' Archbishop Gregory Aymond's support for ministry for LGBT people when a federal judge upheld the state’s definition of marriage as being only between a man and a woman at the beginning of this September.

Shine hopes to represent the Catholic's support for LGBT equality with New Ways Ministry and he is overall happy with O'Malley's comments at the panel. He said, though, that this is just one step of many that needs to occur.

"Overall there's still a feeling in the American hierarchy of resistance to what Pope Francis is doing," Shine said.

September 17, 2014

Pro-LGBT Catholic ministry to be present at Vatican family synod

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The Vatican is hosting the Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family, in which LGBT issues are likely to be a main topic. One pro-LGBT Catholic ministry is making sure that they are present. Sister Jeannine Gramick, the co-founder of New Ways Ministry, and Executive Director Francis DeBernardo are currently on their way to Rome to provide a faithful pro-LGBT presence.

The two will be attending and participating in various events around the Synod, and will provide an LGBT-affirming voice for the media as the Synod is conducted.

They will be traveling with Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, a retired auxiliary bishop from Sydney, Australia, who has written a book entitled Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church.   Bishop Robinson has also called on the Church to totally re-vamp its sexual ethics.

You can read about the plan New Ways Ministry for their time during the Synod here. Follow New Ways Ministry for updates on their work in Rome and around Europe by visiting their blog, Bondings 2.0.

October 1, 2014

Vatican synod of family hears about LGBT families, not from them

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The Vatican Synod on Marriage and the Family has broken the silence on LGBT couples and families, with mention by the leaders of the Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council.

According to New Ways Ministry, which has representation in Rome for the synod, Ron and Mavis Pirola told a story about how their friends accepted his son and partner at home for Christmas.

‘The domestic church’ represented by the family, ‘has much to offer the wider Church in its evangelizing role,’ the couple continued. ‘For example, the Church constantly faces the tension of upholding the truth while expressing compassion and mercy. Families face this tension all the time.’ The couple went on to illustrate this with an example relating to homosexuality. ‘Friends of ours were planning their Christmas family gathering when their gay son said he wanted to bring his partner home too. They fully believed in the Church’s teachings and they knew their grandchildren would see them welcome the son and his partner into the family. Their response could be summed up in three words, “He is our son.”

The story was intended to be an example for how the Roman Catholic Church should treat LGBT people. However, New Ways Ministry didn't think it was much affirmation for LGBT people or their relationships.

The welcome, yes, is very important. And it is admirable that they are encouraging parishes to welcome LGBT people as this couple welcomed their son and his partner. But it is hard to interpret what the Pirolas’ silence about the evaluation of the gay couple’s relationship is.  Does it mean that they accept the couple or that they don’t want to talk about the relationship?  It is hard to say.  The clause “the Church constantly faces the tension of upholding the truth while expressing compassion and mercy” makes me think that their intention is the latter.  When “truth,” “compassion,” “mercy” are all in the same sentence in an official church context, it usually means that the speaker does not support the idea of full equality for LGBT people and their relationships.

However, the mere mention of LGBT people was unexpected. Ultimately, it would be of great benefit for the synod to hear from the people they are speaking about. But the track record of most Christian churches including LGBT people in discussions about LGBT people has been poor. We will continue to follow New Ways Ministry to see when and how LGBT people and their families are referenced. 

October 8, 2014

The schism between the hierarchy and the people of the Roman Catholic Church

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In recent news, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church have given both positive and negative signals on the issue of the acceptance of LGBT people into the Roman Catholic Church. Despite the ebb and flow of the issue of LGBT recognition amongst the bishops and cardinals that make up the upper level of the hierarchal system, there are varying degrees of separation between them and their congregation. This raises the question: Are the senior authorities of the Roman Catholic Church out of touch with the congregants of the Roman Catholic Church?

When asked about if he thinks the Church would ever bless a same-sex couple's marriage, Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, the Vatican's highest ranking expert on Church law, replied, "For us, and not just for us but for human culture in general, marriage is between a man and a woman." Though he clarified that the church does not judge LGBT couples, he went on to say,

But to bless this type of union…to say that they are like (heterosexual) marriages, never. This is simply for reasons of logic and identity. To bless them is not part of the way we see Christian doctrine.

Raymond Burke, former Archbishop of St. Louis and now the Cardinal Perfect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, was interviewed by LifeSiteNews, an anti-LGBT news site, and asked about how Catholic parents planning a Christmas gathering should deal with their gay son asking to bring his partner to the party, where grandchildren will be present. His response was that the "delicate" question itself was "made even more delicate by the aggressiveness of the homosexual agenda."  He went on the record saying,

If it were another kind of relationship — something that was profoundly disordered and harmful — we wouldn't expose our children to that relationship, to the direct experience of it. And neither should we do it in the context of a family member who not only suffers from same-sex attraction, but who has chosen to live out that attraction, to act upon it, committing acts which are always and everywhere wrong, evil.

He goes on to say that, "we know that with time, these relationships leave the person profoundly unhappy" and provides additional commentary to his thoughts on LGBT relationships.

There are many people within the Roman Catholic Church, cardinals, clergy, and congregations alike, who advocate for LGBT recognition and equality in the Roman Catholic Church. At the University of Notre Dame, administration has announced that it will extend benefits to employees with same-sex spouses, after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized marriage equality in Indiana. In an email sent to the employees, the school stated,

Notre Dame is a Catholic university and endorses a Catholic view of marriage. However, it will follow the relevant civil law and begin to implement this change immediately.

Notre Dame is not the only school affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church who is taking measures to ensure the equal treatment of LGBT people. Saint Peter's Preparatory School, a Jesuit, all-male private school in Jersey City, New Jersey, also supported LGBT equality by participating in #spiritday yesterday. They went purple on Facebook to stand against bullying and in support of LGBT youth.

At the Vatican's synod on marriage and the family, Bishop Mario Grech, bishop of Gozo and president of the bishops' conference of Malta, gave a talk where he urged the acceptance of LGBT members. He spoke of how his talks Drachma Parents, an affiliate with Malta's Catholic LGBT organization Drachma, impacted his views. Drachma Parents was started by Joseanne and Joseph Peregin, parents of a gay son, after being inspired by Sister Jeannine Gramick of New Ways Ministry, a pro-LGBT Catholic ministry. New Ways Ministry has spoken out in support of a transgender woman who wants to become a nun, they have spoken against church firings, and they have been instrumental in being a voice for LGBT people at the synod.

Perhaps one significant mark of progress is the report released from the Vatican on Monday in which we saw a shift in how the Roman Catholic Church talks about LGBT people and relationships.

Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions, it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners.

In the effort for LGBT recognition in the Roman Catholic Church, these statements are a step in a new, more inclusive direction. New Ways Ministry says it best,

This call to dialogue has been absent in church discussions of sexuality for way too long. It presents the hope that future changes that are even more welcoming and accepting of lesbian and gay people and their families can develop down the road.  Once church leaders engage in dialogue with lesbian and gay Catholics, I am confident that these leaders will see the deep faith, love, and witness to the Gospel that is active in their lives and loves.

The dialogue at the synod is a massive event for the LGBT community. It is a huge step for LGBT recognition with the Roman Catholic Church and for equality. Research shows that 43% of people within the Roman Catholic Church are in favor of marriage equality and 73% believe there should be laws to protect LGBT people in the workplace. More than half of the people in the Roman Catholic Church don't believe that same-sex relationships are a sin.

GLAAD partnered with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation to release a guide that highlights media coverage of faith-based LGBT issues. "In Focus: Faith, LGBT People, & the Midterm Elections" is a much-needed resource, especially during this Midterm election season, to amplify the voices of LGBT advocates in the faith community whose views are covered by those who may be spreading anti-LGBT messages.

Visit www.glaad.org/faith to learn more about GLAAD's Religion, Faith & Values program. 

October 17, 2014

The Vatican shifts its tone on LGBT people and relationships

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The Vatican has released a report on the process of the Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family, and within it, Catholic LGBT advocates are starting to see a shift in the way that the church talks about LGBT people and their relationships.

The report, which can be viewed here, was covered by the Associated Press:

The bishops repeated that gay marriage was off the table. But it acknowledged that gay partnerships had merit.

"Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions, it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners," they said.

New Ways Ministry Executive Director Francis DeBernardo and founder Sister Jeanine Gramick, are in Rome to be a pro-LGBT witness during the Synod. DeBernardo offered up a statement on New Ways Ministry blog.

“The relatio offers some very hopeful directions in the way that Church leaders should address lesbian and gay people and their families.  I hope that local bishops and pastors will respond to the relatio’s challenges with new ways of welcome and acceptance.

“The most significant aspects are that Catholic communities are offered the challenge of ‘accepting and valuing’ lesbian and gay people’s sexual orientation, and the recognition that lesbian and gay people ‘have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community.’    These recognitions are total reversals of earlier church statements which labelled such an orientation as “objectively disordered” and which viewed gay and lesbian people in faith communities as problems and suspect persons.  Though the relatio also speaks about the importance of not ‘compromising Catholic doctrine on family and matrimony,’ the move toward accepting and valuing the gifts of gay and lesbian people is a major step forward.

“Although same-gender marriages are not recognized–which is not a surprise–it is very significant that the relatio recognizes that gay and lesbian couples offer one another ‘mutual aid to the point of sacrifice [which] constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners.’  This recognition of the holiness of gay and lesbian couples is an important development, and I think it can lead to further developments of full recognition in years to come.

“Perhaps the most welcome statement, in terms of general approaches to marriage, family, and sexuality, is the admonition: The indispensable biblical-theological study is to be accompanied by dialog, at all levels.’

“This call to dialogue has been absent in church discussions of sexuality for way too long.  It presents the hope that future changes that are even more welcoming and accepting of lesbian and gay people and their families can develop down the road.  Once church leaders engage in dialogue with lesbian and gay Catholics, I am confident that these leaders will see the deep faith, love, and witness to the Gospel that is active in their lives and loves.”

October 13, 2014

Pope Francis called marriage equality "ideological colonization" to destroy family

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Pope Francis came out with his strongest comments against marriage equality, calling it, "ideological colonization that we have to be careful about that is trying to destroy the family." His comments came during a visit to the Philippines, and in the midst of a Roman Catholic conversation on marriage and family.

Reuters speculates that the phrase "ideological colonization" is messaging directed at developing countries, urging them to resist following countries that allow for marriage equality.

The statement comes as a bitter disappointment to those who hoped that Pope Francis would be one to bring reformation on the issue of marriage equality and the equal treatment of LGBT people within the Roman Catholic Church.

Just yesterday, CNN beautifully highlighted the story of LGBT Filipinos who were eager for the Pope's visit, looking forward to a word of consolation, and not of the condemnation that came during his visit. Hearing this couple's story, it would be hard not to imagine the disappointment they felt.

Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director of Dignity USA, also shared her disappointment at Pope Francis' comments, noting how similar they sounded to several of the commentators on GLAAD's Commentator Accountability Project.

“DignityUSA is disturbed and disappointed by Pope Francis’ remarks in the Philippines referring to support for same-sex marriage as ‘ideological colonization…that is trying to destroy the family,’” said the organization’s Executive Director, Marianne Duddy-Burke.  “Especially in light of the more welcoming and sensitive tone on LGBT issues that the Pope has taken over the past two years, it is disconcerting to hear a phrase that is a hallmark of extreme right-wing religious leaders and politicians coming from the leader of the Catholic Church.  We hope that these recent remarks do not represent a resurgence of anti-marriage equality activity from the Vatican and the world’s Catholic bishops, just a short time after the Pope seemed to discourage such activity in the United States and elsewhere.

Francis DeBernardo, the Executive Director of News Ways Ministry, offered some analysis of the statement and the setting:

The hallmark of Francis' papacy has not been his outreach to LGBT people, though indeed that has been more marked than his predecessors.  The hallmark has been his openness to dialogue and discussion.  "Ideological colonization" invokes a political framework of imposing outside values by force. He should have followed his own principles and been a listener in the Philippines, rather than a talker

The Pope's comments come in anticipation of the Roman Catholic World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia this September. Already, the Vatican has held an Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family, which presented brief glimmers of hope, which were quickly squelched. The Vatican followed up with a conference that featured some of the leading (and not always Roman Catholic) anti-LGBT leaders, under the title The Complementarity of Man and Woman: An International Colloquium.

The comments run counter to the vast majority of Catholic people in the United States who support their LGBT friends and family, including supporting marriage equality. GLAAD is continuing to work with Catholic LGBT organizations and people to change the culture of the Church, and perhaps one day, the hierarchy. 

January 16, 2015

LGBT Catholics forced to move meeting space out of church as pope's visit approaches

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As Philadelphia prepares for the arrival of Pope Francis, national groups representing LGBT Catholics and their families have been denied use of a Philadelphia church they had previously reserved. The coalition known as Equally Blessed had worked out an agreement with St. John the Evangelist's parish center for workshops and gatherings during next month's World Meeting of Families. St. John has now refused to allow Equally Blessed use of the promised parish space, forcing the coalition to find an alternative 'home base' for their panels on Catholic sexualities and gender identities.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

The apparent ejection from St. John's is the latest evidence of the divide between church leaders and LGBT Catholic groups as the meeting and the visit by Pope Francis draw near.

Organizers of the alternative events planned for St. John's were told last week by its pastor that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia disapproved of their gender identity program and they would no longer be allowed to use space at St. John's for any events that week, [New Ways Ministry Executive Director Francis] DeBernardo said.

Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of Boston-based Dignity USA, said she was not surprised. She said that since its founding in 1986, Dignity's three dozen chapters around the nation have all been kicked out of a Catholic church at least once.

"I don't think it reflects in any way on the parish or on Catholics in the Philadelphia area, but it is more evidence of this horrible divide," she said. "Not being able to use our own church is certainly painful - it's symbolic - but we keep coming back to, 'The church is the people, it's not a building,' so we move on. There are other spaces."

Julie Chovanes, a transgender woman and a lawyer based in Chestnut Hill, was slated to speak at the workshop. She learned about the change in location Monday.

"So they literally kicked trans people out of the church? It's an amazing thing, especially if you're trying to show families we are a part of the human family," said Chovanes.

Equally Blessed, a coalition of Catholic organizations committed to equality for LGBT Catholics and their families and loved ones, is comprised of New Ways Ministry, Dignity USA, Fortunate Families, and Call to Action. They have found alternative housing for their events at Arch Street United Methodist Church, a Reconciling Ministries Network congregation committed to LGBT acceptance within the United Methodist Church. Of the eviction, Equally Blessed released a statement saying that they were "saddened, frustrated, and deeply disappointed." They went on, stating:

Unfortunately, this is yet another instance of the kind of exclusion LGBT Catholics and supporters have endured for decades. Bishops have refused to allow us to meet in our own Churches, retreat centers, and colleges. In every instance, we have been blessed to find gracious welcome from members of other denominations and communities, just as we have from Arch Street United Methodist Church in Philadelphia. The Spirit has provided for us and will continue to lead us forward.

GLAAD is actively working with Equally Blessed and other LGBT Catholic support and advocacy groups. Next month GLAAD will be on the ground during the World Meeting of Families, along with LGBT families who will witness to the inclusion of LGBT people in the life of the church. GLAAD will provide support for these LGBT families and loved ones making their pilgrimage to Philadelphia to ensure that they are visible in the midst of the Catholic dialogue surrounding marriage and family.

In preparation for Pope Francis's upcoming visit to the United States, GLAAD released "The Papal Visit: A journalist's guide to reporting on Pope Francis and the LGBT community," a resource guide for journalists designed to help bring a spotlight to the contributions and challenges of LGBT Catholics in the U.S. and the Americas. Written in both Spanish and English, the guidebook contains a timeline outlining some of the Pope's most prominent actions and statements about the LGBT community as well as best, practices, pitfalls, and terms to avoid when discussing LGBT Catholics. Further, the guide highlights LGBT-supportive Catholics, LGBT Catholic organizations, story ideas focusing on both LGBT acceptance and opposition among Catholics, and more.

The guide will be distributed to media prior to the Pope's visit, and will be a part of GLAAD's presence during the World Meeting of Families and the Papal visit in Philadelphia in September. GLAAD will be engaging with reporters in Philadelphia, providing them with resources and connecting them to LGBT organizations and individuals who will also be present.

"The Papal Visit" comes after a letter, signed by GLAAD's President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and DignityUSA's Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke and endorsed with 29 additional sign-on organizations and people, was mailed directly to the Pope in July. It explains that LGBT people, including those in the Catholic Church, face "a compelling pastoral need" for "great healing and reconciliation." What the letter and its call to action detail is the gap between support among Catholic people for the LGBT community, and the harmful sentiments and policies of the Catholic hierarchy.  

GLAAD's efforts during the pope's visit builds on the organization's longstanding commitment to elevating the experiences of LGBT people of faith, as well as LGBT-affirming voices of faith in mainstream media. 

August 18, 2015

PHOTOS: GLAAD at the White House for Pope Francis visit

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The White House invited GLAAD and LGBT and Catholic leaders to attend a ceremony on the White House's South Lawn welcoming Pope Francis before his private meeting with President Obama. Representing the organization, GLAAD's CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis and Director of Programs Ross Murray joined around 15,000 other guests for the Pope's first full day in the United States.

Also in attendance with GLAAD was Nicholas Coppola, a Catholic gay man and prominent LGBT advocate, who launched a Change.org petition asking Pope Francis to sit down and listen to LGBT Catholics during his time in the United States. His petition has garnered over 8,000 signatures.

GLAAD joined Sister Jeannine Gramick and Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, a ministry of advocacy and justice for LGBT Catholics, and reconciliation within the larger Christian and civil communities. Sister Jeannine Gramick and Francis DeBernardo were among 28 leaders of organizations that signed GLAAD and DignityUSA's letter to Pope Francis in June.

Check out photos of GLAAD's presence at the White House reception for Pope Francis below: 

To find out more about GLAAD's coverage of Pope Francis's Visitation, visit www.glaad.org/pope. There you can sign Nicholas' petition and add your own message to the Pope through GLAAD's #TellThePope Tumblr campaign. Also, remember to follow GLAAD, as we will be on the ground in Philadelphia during the World Meeting of Families. 

September 23, 2015

What's next for LGBT Catholics? Join GLAAD's Google Hangout to discuss

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Join GLAAD on Tuesday, October 27 at 9:00 AM PT/12:00 PM ET in a Google Hangout with LGBT Catholic leaders to talk about the secretive Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family at the Vatican.

LGBT Catholics who organized a strong and faithful presence during Pope Francis' visit to the United States have been anticipating the results of the Extraordinary Synod.

The Synod was a meeting of bishops and cardinals to review and potentially shape the Church's ministry and teaching on issues related to marriage and family. The two topics that seem to be the most prominent are ministry with people who are divorced and remarried, as well as LGBT people. LGBT Catholics and their allies are hoping for a ministry that listens to and responds to the lives of LGBT people.

Now that the Synod is completed, many are left to wonder, "What does this mean?" We'll answer that question together in this Google Hangout, and you can be a part of the conversation. Just tweet your question to @glaad, and we'll respond on the air.

The Google Hangout will features leaders in the LGBT Catholic movement. They will provide analysis of recent developments during the Synod, continued actions of the Roman Catholic hierarchy, and what next steps are possible for the LGBT Catholic movement.

Panelists will include:

Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director of DignityUSA, speaks regularly at conferences around the country on issues of importance to LGBT Catholics and their families. She was featured in the video, "DignityUSA: A Conversation with Marianne Duddy," and her work has been included in several books, including, most recently, Redemption Stories: Stories of Survival and Transformation. Marianne lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with her spouse Becky Duddy-Burke and two adopted daughters, Emily and Infinity.

Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director of New Ways Ministry, has been providing reporting and analysis from the Vatican while the Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family has been happening. published articles and book reviews on religious and secular themes, and presented scholarly papers at universities and various organizations. He maintains a blog on Catholic LGBT news and opinion, and is the author of "Marriage Equality: A Positive Catholic Approach."

The hangout will be moderated by Ross Murray, GLAAD's Director of Programs, focusing on global and the US South. Ross has secured national media interest in stories that bring examples of LGBT equality across diverse communities in America. He specializes in relationship between religion and LGBT people. Ross works with individuals and organizations who are bringing LGBT equality to craft a media strategy and prepares to be able to tell that story effectively, and in a way that calls others to action. In 2014, he was named one of Mashable's "10 LGBT-Rights Activists to Follow on Twitter." Ross is also a founder and director of The Naming Project, a faith-based camp for LGBT youth and their allies. 

To watch and participate in the Hangout, visit www.glaad.org/pope on Tuesday, October 27 at 9:00 AM PT/12:00 PM ET. Submit your questions on Twitter by sending them to @glaad. 

GLAAD has been advocating for the stories of LGBT Catholics to be heard. In preparation of Pope Francis' arrival in the United States, GLAAD released a resource guide to reporting on Pope Francis and the LGBT community of faith for media professionals in English and Spanish. Also, GLAAD was in Washington, D.C. at President Obama's White House reception for Pope Francis and on the ground in Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. During the papal visit GLAAD led the #TellThePope campaign which provided a platform for voiced experiences of LGBT folks or allies to be heard.

October 23, 2015
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