Catholics Grandmothers Protest Removal of Wisconsin LGBTQ+ Ministry
St. Mary’s, Hales Corner, Wisconsin
Three Catholic grandmothers are protesting the closure of an LGBTQ+ ministry in a Wisconsin parish, telling the local archbishop that “we need to accept everyone as they are rather than ask them to reject themselves so that they might be worthy of the church’s love.”
The grandmothers sent a letter to Archbishop Timothy Listecki of Milwaukee requesting that the Gay and Straight in Christ (GASIC) group at St. Mary Parish, Hales Corners, be reestablished, according to the National Catholic Reporter. The group was shut down in January 2024 by the pastor, Fr. Aaron Laskiewicz, who said that parishes in the archdiocese must follow traditional teachings on gender and sexuality. A chapter of Courage International, a Catholic organization which preaches celibacy for all gay and lesbian people, replaced the group.
The letter came from three grandmothers and another group member and was addressed to the archbishop, the pastor, and Fr. Nathan Reesman, the local coordinator of Courage.
For Jean, one of the letter’s authors, GASIC had allowed her to understand and embrace her grandson’s transgender identity. She wrote:
“I am very confused about Fr. Aaron Laskiewicz’s decision to close St Mary Hales Corners’ doors to the GASIC community. I asked myself, ‘How could my parish close its doors to a community that provides me with so much love and support, that reaches out to those on the margins and teaches acceptance of all God’s children?’ I am distraught to see the doors of my church closed to GASIC because I thought my Church would always support me on my life’s journey. How can my grandson believe that he is loved and accepted when GASIC communities are banned and replaced with groups that teach him and his family that we must reject who he is to be worthy of our Church’s sacraments, to be worthy of Christ’s love? I am disheartened to experience my Church’s mistreatment of people who are transgender and their allies. I believe that the church Jesus Christ created 2,000 years ago should accept all who believe in him, wherever they are in their gender identity journey.”
Anita Kowalski, an 86-year-old grandmother, wrote:
“The Catholic Church I am a part of still sees my grandkids as ‘disordered’–somehow fundamentally broken in a way that separates them from the community of their faith. I remain Catholic because of my deep belief in Christ’s command to love one another as he loves us –unconditionally. I want my grandchildren to know that Granny sees them and loves them for who they are. I want to reflect Christ’s love for them– to pass on the gift of kindness and love that my uncle showed me. This is my vocation as a parent, grandparent, and Christian. I am part of the group that writes this letter because I feel strongly that we need to accept everyone as they are rather than ask them to reject themselves so that they might be worthy of the church’s love.”
And for the third grandmother, Rebekah Dubrosky, the closure of the group contradicted the values that were taught to her when she converted to Catholicism. She wrote:
“When I was converting to Catholicism, the sister who did the RCIA with me, told me: ‘When you’re baptized, you belong to the people of God, you are part of the church. The people are the church, and the church has a bunch of different people, backgrounds, but everybody gets to stay. No one can say you are not worthy enough to be here.”
Marge Sebern, a Catholic ally who is a member of another parish’s LGBTQ+ ministry, discussed what she called the “outdated” teachings of the church:
“A greater harm is the social sin of violence and victimization toward people considered sexual and gender minorities. This social sin causes physical, mental and spiritual trauma to our queer siblings as well as their families who are asked to reject their queer family member’s identity. Violence contributes to this population’s increased risks for addiction, poor health, depression and suicide. To end this social sin, our churches and communities must recognize and listen to God’s children who identify as queer, and not pass judgment on the identity which s/he is born with.”
The letter ended with a direct call to action.
“We are grateful for your vocations and ask that you consider the following in parish ministry to people who are LGBTQ+ and allies:
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- Support current Parish Gay ministries for LGBTQ+ individuals and families, that focus on the gifts that LGBTQ+ individuals and families bring to our church.
- Reinstate the GASIC community at St. Mary Hales Corners.
- Strive to be a church where all are welcomed by clergy without fear of judgement, exclusion or being socially marginalized because of gender and sexual identities which s/he is born with.
- Understand the present-day challenges of Catholics who desire to integrate our love of family members and our love of our faith community.
- Consider current theological and human-scientific findings related to the LGBTQ+ community (see references).
- Listen to parishioners who speak honestly about their experiences. Do not require people who are LGBTQ+ to accept a gender identity or sexual orientation that lessens their human dignity.”
Reesman, the Courage chaplain, responded to the letter stating that the Gay and Straight in Christ ministry did not align with “the fullness of Christian anthropology and Catholic teachings” and thus will not be reinstated. Laskiewicz, the pastor, further stated that he has “the full knowledge and support of the Archdiocese” when it comes to this decision.
Laskiewicz closed GASIC only a few months after he became the pastor at St. Mary’s. He did not discuss the closure of the group publicly. Deacon Bill Goulding, a GASIC group assistant, had to inform members. Goulding later decided to leave the parish “out of disappointment” of the group’s closure and the way the closure was handled.
Twenty LGBTQ+ Catholics and allies have left St. Mary’s since the removal of GASIC. Some have gone to new parishes, while others have left the Catholic Church completely. The loss of so many parishioners indicate the importance of community groups, especially those related to marginalized identities. For Julie Behrman, GASIC was a “lifeline.” She explained:
“‘Because of GASIC, I felt like I could bring all of me to the church. There weren’t any walls or barriers up. And isn’t that what we’re supposed to be for each other? Ourselves.'”
—Sarah Cassidy (she/her), New Ways Ministry, December 16, 2024
I would leave in solidarity with them. This is hateful and that is not what Jesus taught.
So much for the notion of one parish “family”. Get rid of the brothers and sisters who you feel are unworthy to be among you. Who cares about the needs of my brothers and sisters?
Not a “family” I want to be a part of. I am better off on my own.
To all the Grandmother’s who support us, THANK YOU! You have courageously spoken your truth to power. It means alot to us even if they don’t want to listen.
In the Gospels Jesus never condemned gay relationships. The closest he came to anything was to reiterate the sixth commandment and call for faithfulness. As a response to the Roman lifestyle which was quite loose the early church responded by condemning this lifestyle. And since Peter has been appointed head of the Apostles the Roman Church became the dominant Christian Church which was called Catholic because of it appeal to all people. Paul was very influential and call gay relationships and Abomination which had a different meaning at the time he used it. It did not mean things were sinful but just not the right way to do things. And since procreation is a main concern of all living things and since gay people could not produce procreation a faithful marriage between a man and a woman became the right thing to do. And this is what is emphasized today. Although the population of the Earth has increased where it is not such a concern. But still remains a concern with religious groups. Love is not important making babies is important. And what is so important about children does not seem to be all that important to once they are born. We have a lot of starving children throughout the world