Posts

What I Learned at the World Meeting of Families

/4 Comments/in , /by
When I set out for Ireland nine days ago, I thought I was going there to report on a church conference.  Instead, the experience has felt more like I was covering a revolution. Read More

Pope Francis Closes World Meeting of Families While Being Attacked by Former Papal Nuncio

/1 Comment/in , /by
The World Meeting of Families 2018 concluded yesterday with a papal Mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park, and the atmosphere was decidedly somber and depressing.  The morning's rain showers didn't help, but the rain clouds were not the problem. The problem was the darker clouds of clergy and religious abuse of children which has covered Ireland for far too long now. And if Pope Francis' slow response to the abuse was not enough to keep people away, on the eve of the papal Mass news hit that the former papal nuncio to the United States was attacking the pontiff's record. Read More

BREAKING NEWS from WMF: Family With LGBT Members Brings Offertory Gifts to Pope Francis

/0 Comments/in /by
At the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families here in Dublin's Phoenix Park, it has been announced that among the handful of families who will be in the offertory procession will be " a family involved in the “All Are Welcome” Mass in Avila, in Donnybrook, Dublin." Read More

LGBT and Ally Voices on World Meeting of Families

/0 Comments/in /by
Some brief items about LGBT voices discussing the World Meeting of Families, Dublin. Read More

Rainbow Choir Sings to WMF and Asks Church Leaders to “Hear Our Voices”

/2 Comments/in /by
Certainly one of the most memorable events of the World Meeting of Families week in Dublin was a musical performance held literally and figuratively "outside the gates" of the pastoral congress' venue.  Read More

You Never Know What You Will Find at the World Meeting of Families!

/5 Comments/in /by
The last place in the world where I would expecting to find an all-gender bathroom is the World Meeting of Families. Read More

Fr. James Martin Urges Welcome and Respect for LGBT Catholics at WMF

/0 Comments/in , /by
The movement in the United States and around the world to create LGBT-friendly parishes, which has worked for decades to welcome and include marginalized and alienated people, finally came into its own this week when, at the Vatican-sponsored World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Jesuit Father James Martin addressed the gathering about creating inclusive Catholic communities. Read More

Rainbows Over the World Meeting of Families

/7 Comments/in /by
This evening in Dublin, in the sky above the venue of the Vatican's World Meeting of Families, two separate rainbows appeared about an hour apart from each other.  Read More

Question to Archbishop and Cardinal: ‘What plans do you have for reconciliation with the LGBT community?’

/2 Comments/in , /by
"There have been many missteps in the planning of this event that have alienated LGBT people.  And despite adding two program sessions on LGBT pastoral ministry, many LGBT people still feel alienated and unwelcome. What plans do you have for reconciliation with the LGBT community here in Ireland, and Cardinal Farrell, what plans do you have for reconciliation with LGBT people around the world?" Read More

No Room at the Inn?

/8 Comments/in /by
It seems like there actually WAS room, after all! Read More