Love Tenderly

Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious

A new book from New Ways Ministry

LOVE TENDERLY is an anthology written by twenty-three vowed women religious who embrace their sexual identity as lesbian or queer. While telling their stories of self discovery and acceptance they explore questions related to vowed life, falling in love, and advice they would give to a lesbian or queer woman considering religious life. Readers will be inspired and challenged to deeper consideration of their own psycho-sexual-spiritual journey.

Pricing: Print copies are available for $19.95. E-books are $9.99. A discount on print copies is available for vowed women religious (see button below).

“The Mercy Community values, indeed cherishes, each member. It is in that spirit that we thank our four sisters who are contributors to the volume, Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious. We hope that their stories will open hearts and enlighten minds to the sacredness and endless diversity of God’s creation. We appreciate this book that alerts us to the many ways we are blessed and that we need to learn to be more and more inclusive and welcoming. 

– Institute Leadership Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Resources For and About Lesbian/Queer Women Religious

Out of Silence God Has Called Me: A Lesbian Religious Tells Her Story: A booklet by Sister Janet Rozzano, RSM. Click here to download a PDF.

Homosexuality in the Priesthood and Religious Life, ed. Jeannine Gramick (New York: Crossroad, 1989)

Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy by Judith Brown (New York: Oxford University Press, 1986)

Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence, ed. Rosemary Keefe Curb and Nancy Manahan (Naiad Press, 1985; updated edition by Spinsters Ink, 2013)