Latest News
Remembering Casey Lopata Who Had a Loving Father’s Eyes
May 13, 2021
At a New Ways Ministry workshop that Casey attended, I once asked participants for their favorite scripture verse or passage which gave them strength for the journey of LGBTQ ministry. Casey’s answer was: “Human beings look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Casey’s life was an example of striving to live into that virtue. He always tried to look at people the way God looked at them—with loving parental eyes. Our church is a better place because he lived that way.
Court Dismisses Fired Gay Church Worker’s Discrimination Lawsuit for Unclear Reasons
May 12, 2021
An Indiana court has dismissed a fired church worker’s lawsuit against the archdiocese that pursued his termination over his same-gender marriage, though the reasons for the dismissal are unclear. Meanwhile, the discrimination lawsuits of two fire church workers in that archdiocese have been allowed to proceed.
German Priests Explain Why They Celebrated and Blessed Same-Gender Couples
May 11, 2021
Priests are speaking out about why they are participating in the “#liebegewinnt (Love Wins)” campaign this week, which includes more than 100 events in Germany and Switzerland to bless same-gender couples.
Journeys: A Scriptural Reflection Series for LGBTQ People and Allies
JOURNEYS is an invitation to walk with our ancestors, discover the great source of love, and celebrate our identities as children of God and LGBT persons and allies of faith. Each prayer guide in the series contains a section of Scripture, followed by questions for reflection. These questions can be used for personal meditation, journaling, or group conversations.
To access the Journeys reflections, click here
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“From the Smallest of Seeds…”
A Virtual Celebration of Catholic LGBTQ Pride
For the second year, New Ways Ministry again is hosting Catholic LGBTQ Pride with an interactive prayer service on Zoom. The event will take place on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. Time. The theme of this year’s event will be “From the Smallest of Seeds. . .”, which refers to the day’s gospel reading: Mark’s account of the parable of the mustard seed.
For more information or to register, click here.
Next Steps: Developing Catholic LGBTQ Ministry
A Multi-Part Online Series (now underway)
This series is designed to help parishioners, pastoral leaders, and church staff members figure out what form LGBTQ ministry should take in their community. The material will help parish community and staff members discern individually and together what the next steps should be to create a more welcoming pastoral environment for LGBTQ people—even if the next steps are your first steps.
For more information or to sign up for updates, click here.
Trans-forming Love
A program of education, dialogue, and prayer about welcoming transgender people.
The goal of this program is to reflect on how we as Catholics can respond pastorally to transgender people. The program includes information on gender identity and development, pastoral outreach, and spiritual dimensions. No prior knowledge is needed. There will be Q&A sessions, small group discussions, and informational handouts.
For more information and to host a program, click here.