Gay Catholics/ Christians

Grammick: “The Best News (for LGBT Catholics) in a LONG Time”

In a facebook post, Sr Jeannine Grammick (founder of New Ways Ministry), wrote

“This news about a Catholic lesbian meeting with one of Pope Francis’ advisors is the BEST news I’ve read in a long time!”

What was she referring to? A post at New Ways’ blog, Bondings 2.0, which in turn was repeating my own report here, about a meeting in India of Ruby Almeida, chair of Quest, with Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay / Mumbai.

She’s not the only one to see deep significance and hope in this. After I published my post last night, I wrote to Francis DeBenardo, the current director of New Ways. I sent him a link, with the following comment and question:

I think this is huge - to meet, and find a sympathetic hearing, with a man just one rung beneath Pope Francis himself.
What do you think?
His response was unambiguous. His first response came almost immediately

Yes! This is amazing! I will post about it on Monday (I have the second part of a series scheduled for tomorrow) and give you full credit for this wonderful news!

Thanks so much, Terry

Frank

Followed a few minutes later, with this:

On second thought, this news is too good to hold onto. I’m going to post about it right now. You can’t believe how happy and excited your news has made me!

Then, true to his word -

British Catholic Lesbian Leader Meets with Close Papal Advisor

Happy and excited? I feel the same way. Since my earlier troubles with Cafod, I’ve been feeling constantly down, lethargic and tired. Suddenly I’m enthusiastic and energised all over again. Here’s why.

This meeting with Cardinal Gracias, although the most dramatic in the series, is only one of a series, fitting in with a broader narrative for Quest. Last year, Ruby and I had a cordial and constructive meeting with Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton, and later she and her deputy - chair, Michael Bennet, met with Archbishop (now Cardinal) Vincent Nichols of Westminster, the senior bishop for the church in England and Wales, who presented a challenge through them, to Quest.

Further details of that meeting, and the nature of the challenge, remain confidential for now, but will be thoroughly debated and worked through as a major part of the Quest annual conference this year (to be held in Scarborough, 25th - 27th July 2014). This fits in well with the theme of the conference, which had been fixed well before the meeting with the archbishop / cardinal: “So hope for a great sea-change”.

It seems clear that since the election of Pope Francis last year, there have been many signs of a looming sea - change in the Church: from a major change in style. to many fine words (“Who am I to judge?”, and the church as a “field hospital for the wounded”, to the upcoming Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and the Family). However, there’s been little sign as yet of these fine words and change in style taking concrete form for the place of LGBT Catholics in the life of the Church. To ensure that this looming change really does include us, we need to do our bit.

Now recall what it was that got Sr Gramick started, on her groundbreaking work. She was talking to a young gay friend, who asked her, “What is your Church doing for my gay brothers and sisters?”. Realizing that she is part of that Church, she realized that the question he was putting applied to her personally, as much as to anybody else. In the same way, we could all ask ourselves, “What are we doing, for our gay brothers and sisters in the Church?”

The Quest Conference could well be a vehicle to not just hope for a great sea - change, but help us to see how we can help to bring it about.

British queer Catholics (and others) should seriously consider attending Quest conference 2014..

 

 

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