A gathering of Cardinals attending the Synod on Synodality in Rome took a break from proceedings to attend a special event hosted by Fr. James Martin S.J. and his Outreach group. The event, titled “What is the experience of LGBTQ Catholics?”, provided a platform for Catholics in same-sex marriages to share their personal stories and advocate for change within the Catholic Church.
Christopher Vella, a bisexual man and leader of the Maltese LGBT Catholic organization Drachma, addressed the Cardinals, urging them to remove obstacles that hinder the open expression of same-sex love. Vella emphasized the importance of understanding the individuals behind the labels, saying “Let’s get to know the real people… who are trying to live a Catholic life. Let’s allow love to be expressed.”
Fr. Martin’s Outreach initiative, which bills itself as an “LGBTQ Catholic Resource”, co-hosted the event with the Jesuit-run America Magazine. The initiative offers resources such as “The Outreach Guide to the Bible and Homosexuality” and “What Church Leaders Can Learn from LGBTQ Catholics”.
Notable attendees included Juan Carlos Cruz, a gay man and survivor of clerical abuse, who is now a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Cruz has previously spoken publicly about a private conversation with Pope Francis, in which the Pope reportedly told him that his homosexuality “does not matter”. According to Cruz, the Pope assured him that “God made you like this. God loves you like this. The Pope loves you like this, and you should love yourself and not worry about what people say.”
