BREAKING NEWS from WMF: Deacon Who Is Father of Transgender and Bisexual Daughters Assists Liturgically at Closing Mass

Deacon Ray Dever proclaiming the Gospel at the Pastoral Congress’ closing Mass

Deacon Ray Dever, who is the father of a transgender daughter and a bisexual daughter, and who has written eloquently here on Bondings 2.0  about his family and ministerial roles, served liturgically at the closing Mass of of the Pastoral Congress portion of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin. The liturgy closing the event is under way on a rainy and windy afternoon in a sports arena at the Royal Dublin Society, the venue for the World Meeting.

He will also assist at Mass in Phoenix Park on Sunday, at which Pope Francis will preside.

Dever was here in Dublin with his bisexual daughter, Emily, where she spoke at press conference to help launch a website designed to help LGBT young people contact church leaders in advance of the youth synod at the Vatican in October.

Deacon Ray Dever, left, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life

Deacon Dever and his transgender daughter, Lexi, were panel speakers on LGBT family issues at New Ways Ministry’s Eighth National Symposium in April 2017.

Deacon Dever serves pastorally at St. Paul parish, Tampa, Florida.

Deacon Ray’s participation in the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families is a great testimony to all the prayers and work that parents of LGBT people have performed in the Church over decades.

And as the Mass ended today, a double rainbow appeared in the sky over the arena where the liturgy was held.

Francis DeBernardo, with assistance from Robert Shine, New Ways Ministry, August 24, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

You can read Bondings 2.0 posts written by Deacon Ray by clicking the links below:

Gender Ideology, Transgender Reality: A Deacon Parent’s Perspective

Let’s Have a World Meeting of ALL Families

LGBTQ Children in Catholic Families: A Deacon’s View of Holy Family Sunday

8 replies
  1. Kris
    Kris says:

    What? Say again! Rainbows yesterday and rainbows today? This time a double-barrelled formation?

    God isn’t asking to be heard, is he? He’s demanding it!

    You couldn’t make this up, could you? Two SIGNAL ironies in as many days.

    If the pope, and his fellow bishops, ignore this (as they’ve stubbornly ignored much else on the matter), then God will circumvent them, since his will can only be delayed, but not thwarted.

    The episcopacy should reflect on Gamaliel’s words to the Sanhedrin: ‘…I tell you…if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow…You might even be found opposing God!’. (Acts of the Apostles, 5: 38 – 39)

    Our God is full of surprises. The cause of our delight.

    Reply

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