Fr. Radcliffe: If Church Loves LGBTQ+ People, Evolution Will Happen

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As the Synod on Synodality’s first General Assembly concludes this weekend, with its synthesis report expected later today, one participant offered final thoughts on whether and how church teaching on LGBTQ+ issues might change. Read More

Will There Be LGBTQ+ Progress at the Synod? Possibly Yes. And Possibly No.

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Today, the Synod General Assembly's synthesis report will be released. But will the Synod on Synodality really bring significant change for LGBTQ Catholics? Read More

Is the Church a “Family”?

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The point of this grim litany is to suggest that the metaphors of “home” and “family” cannot be innocently invoked by a Church that seeks to welcome LGBTQ people. Read More

Why I Have Mixed Feelings About the Synod’s “Letter to the People of God”

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The Synod’s General Assembly released the first of two anticipated documents yesterday. The text signals that calls for an inclusive church have been heard, though offers few concrete proposals. Read More

Imagining the Feminist and LGBTQ-Affirming Sacramentality of a Synodal Church

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My image of a synodal church, however distant it may be, includes women preaching and ministering the Gospel during the blessing of LGBTQ marriage. Read More

Just What Does ‘Homophobia Must Be Rejected’ Actually Mean?

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If this assembly’s final synthesis can only come up with an agreement that all homophobia must be rejected, it must have a good definition of what the assembly means by homophobia. Read More

Diocese of Davenport’s New LGBTQ+ Guidelines Model Synodality in Action

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The Diocese of Davenport's new guidelines on LGBTQ+ pastoral care are "strikingly positive," and could possibly "shift the trend of transgender-negative diocesan policies in the U.S.," contends Robert Shine, associate director of New Ways Ministry. Read More

Trans Inclusion Is Not Enough for True Synodality

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Against this idea, some Catholics claim that those of us who are trans should find our identity in Christ over and against our other identities. Under this view, we should participate in synodality not on the basis of diversity as ‘trans people,’ but simply as ‘Catholics’. However, neither of these approaches properly contextualise transness. Read More

Gender and Sexuality Affect Every Person. The Synod Must Address This Reality.

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Gender and sexuality must be taken up by the church universal in a more enlightened, substantive, dialogical way. The Synod assembly risks failure if it avoids full examinations of such core questions. Read More

“All Agreed Homophobia Must Be Rejected,” Says Synod Official

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This week, participants were included at the Vatican’s press briefings, and gender and sexuality issues have arisen several times at these events. Read More