A Dutch bishop is refusing to speak to a priest in his diocese who came out as gay this spring. Meanwhile, the priest has written a letter to the bishop, to parishioners, and to others in the Church further explaining his decision to come out and to publish a book on his experiences.
A German bishop has begun a process to discuss blessings for people in relationships that cannot be married in the Catholic Church, including same-gender couples.
Longtime LGBTQ advocate Bishop Thomas Gumbleton has called for the Church to re-evaluate its teachings on homosexuality in light of science and pastoral care, particularly the use of the term “intrinsically disordered.”
Pastors in the Netherlands have again made headlines this year for their LGBTQ advocacy, this time involving a rainbow crosswalk and a controversial new book.
A top Vatican official has condemned so-called gender ideology, specifically gender-confirming surgery, as “a Luciferian refusal” of God’s will and has endorsed the Vatican’s ban on gay priests.
A Spanish diocese is denying reports that it has offered conversion therapy, reports which have prompted a government investigation into whether the Church violated laws banning such treatment.
A lesbian couple has filed discrimination complaint against a Catholic housing agency in Ohio which has previously had trouble due to alleged anti-LGBTQ actions.
A top Church official in France has said there is “something of God speaking” in same-gender relationships, and encouraged LGBTQ Catholics to remain in the Church to help it progress towards greater inclusion.
The Vatican’s top official behind Pope Francis received a delegation of advocates working against anti-LGBTQ criminalization and conversion therapy, a meeting described by one Catholic group as a “great step forward” but which should prompt further action.
The Vatican’s meeting on April 5, 2019 with lawyers and leaders from international LGBT human rights organizations is a great step forward for improving the relationship between LGBT people and the Catholic Church, but more urgent statements and actions are needed.