Micheal trails gay

While in the Midwest I saw my share of severe weather, cold and snowy winters, and even major flooding along the Mississippi River. But they still have love for God. They still have a love of the sacraments and the Eucharist. They’re faithful people who have accepted church teaching on human sexuality, but they also love their child, grandchild, niece, nephew or best friend.

There has and always will be LGBTQ people in the pews—and their family members who worship each Sunday and participate in the life of the parish. 

It’s likely that a priest will encounter a range of pastoral scenarios. It’s not our job to be political, but it is our job to defend the dignity of the human person.

I’ll give you an example.

My next step took me to Rock Island, Illinois to be the Morning Meteorologist for CBS 4 (WHBF). Don’t be afraid to sit with the uncomfortable. You won’t know their whole story, but it’s your job to sit with them and to learn as much of it as you can. It makes us better theologians and priests. Obviously not everyone does.

Here are a few I’ve experienced in my eight years as a priest.

Some Catholics, even active and faithful members, will be angry at the church because of language that they feel isn’t helpful as they consider their identity. Walking alongside this community, I have learned more about how the church can better accompany LGBTQ people, and their friends and families, as they seek to live out their faith.

Recently, I was invited to share some of what I have learned through this ministry with a group of transitional deacons, young men from around the country preparing for the priesthood.

The very fact that the LGBTQ community is coming to us, the church, means that the Lord is working through them. In confession practicum classes at the seminary, we were always encouraged to be merciful. They may challenge your experience of church and how you think the church should work, and their experience of coming to have a relationship with God may be different than what you’ve experienced firsthand.

That’s okay.

That is their identity, not necessarily yours. I get out of the way and I listen to stories about how they grappled with their identity, figured out their sexuality and considered their relationship with God in the midst of the church. They might feel torn. James Martin, SJ's Post