Volume 26, Number 2 A Publication of New Ways Ministry Fall 2005 Memphis bishop welcomes home gay and lesbian Catholics By Dennis Coday But as I have reflected on the church as them were born into Catholic families, baptized National Catholic Reporter home, I have become more acutely aware as infants and attended Catholic schools. They June 17, 2005 of the number of people—the number of have embraced the faith handed on to them. Catholics—who are no longer comfortable in Others, through the examples of friends and Reflecting on the church as home and their home. In fact, some are no longer certain having felt called by God, became Catholics on recent meetings with Catholics who feel that the church is their home. Sometimes it is through the Rite of Christian Initiation of unwelcome in their “home,” Memphis, Tenn., the circumstances of life that cause people to Adults. For all of them, being Catholic is at the Bishop J. Terry Steib announced the begin- feel estranged or separated. Occasionally it is core of who they are. At the same time, they ning of a diocesan ministry to gay and lesbian a misunderstanding of the church’s teachings are people who are not sure of “their place” in Catholics. that keeps people away. Often, individuals hide their home. They are people—wonderful, good Steib began his June 2 column, “This Far by a deep pain that is rooted in knowing that, for Catholic people—who are gay and lesbian. Faith,” published in the diocesan newspaper, by whatever reason, their lives do not conform to Steib wrote about meeting with a group of reflecting on the church as home “where [God’s] other people’s lives; or worse, they feel that who gays and lesbians and then meeting with par- family gathers to celebrate God’s unconditional they are is unacceptable. ents of gays and lesbians. The parents see their love.” Then he wrote the following: Recently I met with such people. Many of children’s “goodness and their giftedness, but they also see the loneliness of their gay and les- bian children as no one else sees it,” he wrote. Reflecting on his meetings and on church as home raised questions, the bishop wrote: “How Church is home to all people of God Most Rev. J.Terry Steib, S.V.D. deep is our river of faith if we are not actively By Bishop J. Terry Steib, S.V.D. whatever reason, their lives do not conform to working to be sure that all are welcome in their to be sure that all are welcome in their own Diocese of Memphis other people’s lives; or worse, they feel that who own home—the home given to each of us when home, and to be sure that we promote genuine May 19, 2005 they are is unacceptable. we became members of God’s family through gratitude and reverence for the gift that each Recently I met with such people. Many of baptism? ... [W]ill we allow our hearts to grow one of us is to the church.” Within the past few months, I have done a them were born into Catholic families, baptized if we simply lay aside preconceived notions of Paulist Fr. John Geaney, the diocesan lot of thinking about the Church as “home.” As as infants and attended Catholic schools. They who does or does not belong?” spokesman, told NCR that the ministry is “home,” the Church is not just a building; it is have embraced the faith handed on to them. Jesus, the bishop noted, “loved all, lived for being run by a committee under the leader- also a community of faith, the gathering of the Others, through the examples of friends and all, and died for all.” ship of the diocese’s director of the office of faithful, the “people of God.” having felt called by God, became Catholics Steib then announced the beginning of a worship. The committee is convening potluck In baptism, we are received into God’s fam- through the Rite of Christian Initiation of diocesan ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics suppers and discussions at the cathedral parish ily, and church is the home where that family Adults. For all of them, being Catholic is at the “to be sure that we do not leave anyone behind, in Memphis. gathers to celebrate God’s unconditional love. core of who they are. At the same time, they Throughout our lives, church is the home are people who are not sure of “their place” in where together we mark the pivotal moments, their home. They are people—wonderful, good allow our hearts to grow if we simply lay aside the “march of tears” of our Native American those moments that tell us who God is and who Catholic people—who are gay and lesbian. preconceived notions of who does or does not sisters and brothers to the grape strikes in we are because of God’s love. With other mem- On two occasions, we came together to belong? And finally, I wondered: how great will California—reminds us that God’s work is bers of the family of God, we are like homing listen. At a first meeting, there were gay and God’s love be in each one of us if we follow the always hampered when human beings are pigeons returning time and time again to cel- lesbian persons. At a second meeting, there example of Jesus who loved all, lived for all, and afraid of differences in each other. A new ebrate births and deaths, baptisms and mar- were Catholic parents of adult gay or lesbian died for all? ministry with gay and lesbian persons will riages, confirmations and the Eucharist. These persons. Among the parents were Catholics We are called to BE church to one another, push open even further the door to promoting sacramental moments are spent together in who have spent their lives as active members to be God’s family to one another. In giving us understanding and compassion among all of addition to our regular “family” gatherings at of the Church, helping to make it a welcoming this Church, God has given us a spiritual home us. It will open the door to “home” for many Sunday liturgies, pastoral council meetings, home for many. They have given generously of here on earth. This spiritual home is to be a who are an important part of who we are, and Scripture studies, choir rehearsals, adult faith themselves, even though they knew that their precursor of the home we will have for eternity to a segment of our family that has been apart formation sessions, youth groups and so many own children felt unwelcome. These parents of when all walls have come down and we are tru- from us for too long. other vital parts of our lives as Christians and gay and lesbian Catholics are extremely proud ly and completely dwelling in union with God The message of Jesus is clear: “Love one Catholics. of their children. They see their goodness and and with one another. Our task while we are another as I have loved you.” In my meetings But as I have reflected on the Church as their giftedness, but they also see the loneliness in this earthly home is to do all we can to help with gay and lesbian Catholics, I told them home, I have become more acutely aware of their gay and lesbian children as no one else each other grow into the home we will share that God does not withhold love from any of of the number of people—the number of sees it. in heaven. us. I believe that wholeheartedly. God’s love is Catholics—who are no longer comfortable in As I listened, I could not help wondering: To be sure that we do not leave anyone unconditional and that is the gift God offers their home. In fact, some are no longer certain how deep is our river of faith if we are not behind, to be sure that all are welcome in their us in Christ Jesus: the gift of loving each other that the Church is their home. Sometimes it is actively working to be sure that all are wel- own home, and to be sure that we promote gen- with that same Godly and unconditional love. the circumstances of life that cause people to come in their own home—the home given to uine gratitude and reverence for the gift that Please pray for this ministry. Participate in feel estranged or separated. Occasionally it is each of us when we became members of God’s each one of us is to the Church, we have begun the work of welcoming the entire family into a misunderstanding of the Church’s teachings family through baptism? How far will we go to lay the foundations for a diocesan ministry the home which is our Church, where all are that keeps people away. Often, individuals hide to ensure that all are valued for the unique gift with Catholic gay and lesbian persons. embraced by God’s unconditional love. Let us a deep pain that is rooted in knowing that, for each one is? How much, I asked myself, will we A brief look at history—from slavery to all dare to love as God loves. Page 2 BONDINGS Volume 26 Number 2 Gay-Friendly Catholic Colleges Universitas Volume 26, Number 2 Fall 2005 Below is a partial list of known “gay-friendly” Catholic colleges and universities, that is, those Catholic colleges that have some type of gay and lesbian student group, support group, ally group, etc.