An event in favor of "LGBTQ Catholics" was recently held at the General House of the Society of Jesus in Rome, sparking numerous reactions within the Church. On October 8, 2024, in the context of the Synod on Synodality, individuals identifying as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) shared their testimonies at the Jesuit headquarters, calling for greater participation in the life of the Church. Although the event received moral support from Father Johan Verschueren, SJ, General Counselor and Delegate for Interprovincial Houses of the Jesuits in Rome, he stated that he did not personally attend.
Moral Support for the Controversial Event
Father Johan Verschueren expressed his support for this gathering through statements relayed by ACI Prensa. In his declarations, he emphasized that, in his view, gender identity is not a "moral choice," asserting that members of this community are "born that way." He also reiterated that these individuals are "loved and called by Our Lord and Savior, invited to follow Him," and that their testimony deserved to be heard.
However, Father Verschueren's remarks, and this event in general, raise a crucial question: to what extent can the Church welcome these testimonies while remaining faithful to its immutable doctrine on sexual morality?
The Role of Outreach and James Martin
The event, titled "What is the Experience of LGBTQ Catholics?," was organized by America Media in partnership with the pro-LGBT group Outreach, founded by the well-known Jesuit, Father James Martin. The latter was personally appointed by Pope Francis to participate in the Synod on Synodality. Father Martin, the panel moderator, is a controversial figure within the Church, accused by some of contradicting the Church's teaching on homosexuality, although he claims not to question Catholic doctrines.
Among the speakers were also the Chilean activist and member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Juan Carlos Cruz, and Cardinal Stephen Chow, a Jesuit and delegate to the synod, who opened the meeting with a prayer invoking the Holy Spirit to enlighten the Church on these matters.
Catholic Doctrine in the Face of LGBTQ Advocacy
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear on this subject. In numbers 2357 and 2358, it teaches that, while persons with homosexual tendencies must be welcomed "with respect, compassion, and sensitivity," homosexual acts, on the other hand, are considered "intrinsically disordered" and "under no circumstances can they be approved." Thus, even though Christ's message is one of love and welcome, the doctrine reminds us that this love cannot approve behaviors contrary to natural and divine law.
The statements of some speakers at this conference, such as Joanita Warry Ssenfuka, a Ugandan activist who calls for seeing LGBT persons "as human beings and not as the sum of their sins," and those of Janet Obeney-Williams, a lesbian who converted to Catholicism after being moved by the words of Pope Francis, seem to contradict this approach. While the dignity of every human being is undeniable, it is nevertheless paramount to recall that true love does not consist in ignoring sin, but in leading the soul toward conversion and holiness.