A group of lesbian and gay Catholics met one of the Church’s most senior cardinals during a pilgrimage to Rome this month and discussed with him the pastoral care of homosexual men and women.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group, from London’s Jesuit-run church in Farm Street, reported that Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, used the 21 February meeting with two of its members to reaffirm his opposition to the criminalisation of gay people.
According to a statement issued by the group, the representatives also expressed the hope “that the pastoral needs of LGBT Catholics, their parents and families, including those of children in same-sex families, would meet with informed discussion during next October's Ordinary Synod of Bishops”.
LGBT group in St Peter's Square, Rome.During the six-day Lenten pilgrimage the group also celebrated a liturgy for victims of homo- and trans-phobic violence at the Rome church of San Bartolomeo.
They took part in Pope Francis’ Ash Wednesday general audience and were the first of the English-speaking groups to be announced as present.
During the visit they also met members of a US-based LGBT Catholic group, New Ways Ministry, to celebrate Mass at St Albert’s International Carmelite Centre and at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The Cardinal-Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, sent a message of support to the group.
“May your lives be a true witness to all who are striving to find God’s love,” he said, and asked them to pray for him throughout the pilgrimage.
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