Parish LGBTQ Ministry?

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blackforest

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I was reading this guide to starting a parish LGBTQ ministry. WHERE TO START – LGBT CATHOLICS

She has some great advice. But I’d also like to hear from those with personal experience, especially if any of you have one in your home parish or are planning to start one. Did you encounter any obstacles to launching this? What does your ministry do or discuss? How often does it meet? Do you have more of a Bible study/theological discussion or support group model? Something else? Also, what ages are involved - just adults, or do you include teens?

If you’re planning to comment on or question the merits of such a ministry, please save your keystrokes and open a new thread. Right now, I’m just digging for logistics. TIA.
 
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My parish had a series we called “Who’s My Neighbor?” One night focused on LGBTQ. The head of the LGBTQ community was there along with others who provided community support. They shared information and first hand stories. We were there to listen, understand, and ask questions. My son is gay and I left the meeting feeling so much better and able to support him. There was no intent to try to change orientation. I would say that those who attended were supportive and understanding. Those who did not attend were upset and and thought the evening should have been spent trying to change orientation . I know this isn’t exactly what you are asking about, but at least we opened a conversation.
 
Dlee said:
I know this isn’t exactly what you are asking about, but at least we opened a conversation.
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No, this actually does provide some ideas. I’m totally new to this ministry concept and would love to know how other parishes follow through with it. I like how your parish reached out to the parents, too. 🙂
 
Since we now know that one sexual orientation is mostly genetically derived, and since even the Pope Francis has stated that if God made some that way then why should he condemn them.

The scriptures not only reflect Divine inspiration, they also contain culture customs of the Middle East region 2000 years ago as well.
 
Metis1 said:
Since we now know that one sexual orientation is mostly genetically derived,
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We don’t “know” this. There is little understand of what drives sexual orientation and much yet to learn.
Metis1 said:
even the Pope Francis has stated that if God made some that way then why should he condemn them.
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Why would a person be condemned for a passion (sexual orientation) - something not chosen. We may view one’s actions dimly - but not their inclinations.
 
Presumably you want to start such a ministry in your church. What is your purpose in doing so? In what way are you hoping to help or enrich any lbgt in your church? Is this intended to be a group that focuses on the Catholic faith and the Bible or one that focuses on sexual inclination?

I think people can offer you better advice if they understand YOUR goal.
 
The Courage ministry is a great place to start. Talk with them. Too many other Catholic-in-name-only groups have strung up, like New Ways Ministry.
 
Rau said:
We don’t “know” this.
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Actually we do, as the geneticists whom have studied it say they estimate that at least 80% of all homosexuals are genetically inclined to be that way. “Scientific American” has run articles on this in the past, so you might consider researching them.
 
A Catholic lesbian teen in my life sparked the idea. Being LGBTQ and a practicing Catholic puts somebody in a unique and often difficult position not supported by the culture. Simply being in the presence of those sharing in the struggle would help. The specifics of how that would look I’ve yet to define. That’s largely why I started this thread.
Domer90 said:
The Courage ministry is a great place to start. Talk with them.
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Thank you.

I think this is an issue that makes a lot of Catholics uncomfortable. But it’s not going away, and it’s best that as a Church, we face it head-on.
Rau said:
We don’t “know” this.
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Metis1 said:
Actually we do, as the geneticists
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I appreciate what you’re both trying to do. But for this thread, I’m focused only on how to run a ministry. Please feel free to carry this debate elsewhere.
 
blackforest said:
I appreciate what you’re both trying to do. But for this thread, I’m focused only on how to run a ministry. Please feel free to carry this debate elsewhere.
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Fine, but my responses were to some others whom already posted some misinformation.

Also, if one is going into the ministry, as I have been involved in for decades now, shouldn’t they know what the facts are first?
 
Fair enough. I’m just thinking that these debates come a dime a dozen on CAF, and I was hoping that this thread wouldn’t devolve into the usual 300+ posts debating homosexuality followed by a mod-lock. So long as it doesn’t, I’ll back off.
Metis1 said:
Also, if one is going into the ministry, as I have been involved in for decades now
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Could you tell me more about this? How are you involved? What does your ministry do?
 
blackforest said:
I think this is an issue that makes a lot of Catholics uncomfortable. But it’s not going away, and it’s best that as a Church, we face it head-on.
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What do you want your ministry to do? Do you envision it as being a way to educate mostly straight people in your parish about LGBT people or as a way to educate LGBT people about Catholic doctrine on sexuality? In the former case, you could provide a forum for the few LGBT people in your parish or their family members to share their experiences with other parish members. In the latter case, would there be enough LGBT people in your parish to minister to? I’ve been in some pretty large and mostly LGBT welcoming Protestant churches (more than 600 people) that nevertheless only had 6 or 7 LGBT people that I knew of. Most LGBT people I know don’t go to church, including the ones who are Catholic.
 
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Thorolfr said:
What do you want your ministry to do?
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Provide support. I don’t know what that looks like yet. I know that there are ministries for other Catholics needing support, such as single, straight Catholics or those who are facing grief and loss. I’ve even seen ones for Catholic adults with ADHD. It might be good to model this venture after what they’re doing.
Thorolfr said:
Do you envision it as being a way to educate mostly straight people in your parish about LGBT people or as a way to educate LGBT people about Catholic doctrine on sexuality?
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Perhaps a little of both could be involved.
Thorolfr said:
In the latter case, would there be enough LGBT people in your parish to minister to?
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This is a good point. I live in an urban area, so perhaps the effort should be more on a diocesan scale.
Thorolfr said:
Most LGBT people I know don’t go to church, including the ones who are Catholic.
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That might be a good reason for this ministry, to reassure them that Christ’s love and mercy is still very much there for them.
 
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blackforest said:
Provide support. I don’t know what that looks like yet.
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You need to know what it looks like. Is it ‘supporting’ people with same sex attraction in pursuing their desires and telling the world it’s okay to do so? Is it supporting such people in living up to their Catholic faith, which would dictate celibacy at the very least?

It’s a huge difference.
 
Obviously it would have to uphold Church teaching in order to gain Diocesan or parish support. Do you have any ideas to share?
 
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The church position is that there is no sin in the orientation. Sin is in behaviour. We all, not just gay people, are called to chastity…every Catholic…unless we are in a Catholic marriage between one man and one woman. About half of adults are not married and we are called to be chaste. If this is taught, I think it’s fine to have the group. Of course the people should not be condemned but be careful not to conflate honesty about the teaching of the church about chastity…teaching about behaviour…with condemnation of any person.
 
I have taught the RCIA program for adults interested in possibly converting to Catholicism for 15 years now, but I also co-taught the Lunch & Learn program at a local Reform synagogue for around 12 years. Besides these, I taught a comparative religions course for four semesters, plus I’ve taught numerous seminars on various religious themes.

IOW, no one has been able to shut me up.
 
There is broad agreement, including with peer-reviewed publications.
 
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