Marginalised Catholics are seeking to change how the forthcoming Synod on Synodality is reviewing their place in Church life, to achieve greater recognition of “spaces” they have already created.
A Catholic LGBT+ meeting is planned for 16 September to consider the questions from the Synod Working Document concerning the group’s position in the Church.
The document, published by the Vatican in June, has recommended that the Church takes on a more active role in accepting and reaching out to marginalised people. Departing from previous Catholic documentation, it adopts the terminology favoured by the global sexual and reproductive rights movement, notably using the term LGBTQ+.
One key question which the document asks is: “How can we create spaces where those who feel hurt by the Church and unwelcomed by the community feel recognised, received, free to ask questions and not judged?”. LGBT+ Catholics Westminster say they are seeking to rephrase this central question, offering an alternative: “How can the spaces created by LGBT+ Catholics be recognised and valued as integral to the life of the Church?”.
The meeting comes at a significant time for LGBT+ Catholics. At the beginning of August, a debate was sparked on the topic of same-sex blessings after Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki sanctioned a parish priest for conducting one, as reported by Christa Pongratz-Lippitt in The Tablet.
Some German bishops have expressed their willingness to refrain from sanctioning priests who conduct blessings for same-sex couples. Archbishop Heiner Koch of Berlin, in a letter addressed to the priests in his archdiocese, conveyed that he would defer the choice of conducting blessing ceremonies to the individual priests. He also, however, stated that he would not personally officiate blessings for same-sex couples unless given Vatican approval.
On 5 August, Pope Francis was asked at his meeting with the Portuguese Jesuits for his stance on the treatment of LGBT+ relationships within the Church. The Pope said, “It is clear that today the issue of homosexuality is very strong, and the sensitivity in this regard changes according to historical circumstances.” He continued by asserting that “everyone is invited. This is the point […] everyone, everyone, everyone is called to live in the Church.”
The Pope reinforced this stance as he spoke about Sister Geneviève, a Charles de Foucauld nun who works with transgender groups. The Pope recounted how he invited the transgender people working with her to his audience. “They made a habit of coming,” he said. “Some write to me, and I email them back. Everyone is invited!”.
At the event, participants are invited to bring and share lunch before the afternoon discussion and Mass. Enquiries to either lgbtcatholicswestminster@gmail.com or 020 8986 0807.
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