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.