r/LGBTCatholic

(I know LifeSite is very homophobic, so take this as a CW of sorts, but it's my personal practice to read perspectives from many ideological corners of the Church. Not saying everyone must, but in case anyone was wondering why I occasionally glance at this site.) Also, I've noticed that, in their panic; conservative Catholic media often does a great job of highlighting the implications of what they see as changes in Church precedent!

I had this thought as soon as Pope Leo made his comments on the war; and LifeSite captions it perfectly:

>Leo XIV has not challenged the Iran war from the perspective of Catholic just war theory, but by rejecting the legitimacy of all wars, not just in the present but in the past also.
Without nuance or caveat, Leo has stated that Our Lord “rejects war,” that no one can “justify war” with reference to Him, and that “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”
These positions are all false, and contrary to the teaching and practice of the Catholic Church

The article goes on to explain what I thought of immediately, that the Church has a long history of Just War theory. Sure, you can be against a war and think a given war is unjust; but the Catholic Church has never been offiically, absolutely, dogmatically pacifist as Pope Leo's comments would seem to suggest.

And interestingly, this is the first piece of media, even conservative Catholic media, that I've seen point out Pope Leo's de novo papal pacifism.

If Pope Francis would have said this; the next day there would have 10+ articles and videos in the Catholic blogophere explaining why he's wrong.

Remember when Pope Francs changed the Catechism on the death penalty in 2018 and everyone lost their minds? Well Pope Leo's shift seems even more dramatic than that.

Because Pope Francis didn't claim to change the underlying moral criteria related to the death penalty, arguably, he just declared that, in the modern world, hardly any case meets such criteria.

With Pope Leo, we also have a set of criteria which would make the thing in question just, and Pope Leo didn't say that nothing today could meet that criteria, he just...acted like the criteria doesn't exist and that God Himself holds this absolutist position.

Well gosh, if Pope Leo can do this to Just War criteria; could a future pope just discard Natural Law Theory on sexuality? All the "unitive and procreative" requirements, could a pope just discard overnight and pretend they never existed?

I personally am not a pacifist, I do believe in Just War theory; and I'm not really here to make this thread about the merits of Just War theory; but to talk about the precedent Pope Leo just set.

Both conservatives and even some disheartened liberals in the Church often echo the same assumption that Church teaching "cannot change."

But I think this de novo new paradigm, totally untethered to the Church's previous official stance; though not an "official" change in doctrine; goes to show just how suddenly it actually can. And sometimes, it seems, hardly anyone even notices.

So, im bi and last month I decided to resing from homossexuality and only date woman, but even though I never even dated a guy, I can't help but to feel a pain in my chest every time I see a guy couple together, or see an attractive boy, or hear something that makes me remember that I will never have the experience of dating a guy. And I know that being bi means I can still have a girlfriend and it should be enough, but it still makes me so sad and worried, but it feels like a sacrifice i need to make

Doesn't someday this feeling disappears or I will have to live with it forever? Do you get used to it someday or you just turn into some homophobe that can't be anywhere near gays? Im praying for the Lord to give me strength, but its not helping yet. Any advice?

So I realized that I don't really have any strong catholic friendships, and I surely would like to have more catholic friends in general, I would really really like catholic friendship that also feel ssa. Because most of my LGBT friends are like "ew church", so they can't really relate to my experience with being bi and catholic and the sacrifices I have to make, so I can't really talk to them about this things.

I also know that is not easy to know when someone is lgbt in church just by their looks, and it isn't really polite to go randomly asking people their sexuality. So I just pray to eventually find the right friend. But do you guys have any tips? Not only to finding lgbt catholic friends, but more catholic friends in general? I tried my parish youth group, but I couldn't really connect with anyone there. What should I try?

I am originally from Europe, living in Tokyo. Baptised and confirmed Anglican (Anglo-Catholic), fell into agnosticism in my teens. But I have been repeatedly drawn to the Catholic Church - even to monastic/oblate life..

Recently, I went to mass while abroad and was very moved by the liturgy and the homily in particular, so I resolved to search a bit deeper and find out what this attraction is. The priest after mass directed me to the Franciscans in Tokyo, and it happens that they have a meeting this weekend for people interested in the OCIA and Catholicism.

However, I am in a long-term relationship with another man (for reference he is Japanese and non-religious). What has always put me off Catholicism was needing to confess that all my current and previous gay relationships were morally wrong and took me away from God. I cannot in good conscious do this. Honestly, I don't believe this for one thing but it also feels profoundly disrespectful to my current and previous partners that the love, happiness and joy we shared was somehow contrary to God's plan or 'intrinsically disordered'.

I understand why the Church thinks the way it does (Aristotle, teleological ethics etc.), but I don't agree with it. Even if I were to become a celibate monk, I still wouldn't want to support teaching my gay and lesbian fellow human beings that the should reject romantic and sexual relationships.

I have read a lot online about the Catholic Church softening its stance with a more 'pastoral approach' (not entirely sure what this means), and the kind words and actions of Pope Francis, but at the same time, in order to convert to Catholicism I understand that you need to ascent to all it's teaching - there is no wiggle room here.

I know the Jesuits and Franciscans tend to be more open that other Catholics, but even they have to toe the party line at the end.

So basically, will I eventually be told (even in the nicest most 'pastoral' way possible) that I need to give up my partner in order for me to enter the church? If it is ultimately going to come to that then I am hesitant to go at all.. and anyone got any experiences they could share?

So I was baptized and raised Catholic, but in recent years, after coming out as bisexual, I sort of have been going the Protestant route (Presbyterian currently.) Part of me wants to revisit Catholicism , but not fully jump in as I struggle with church teachings on sexuality and the church I'm attending now is lgbt affirming. Am I still considered Catholic even if I haven't been to a Catholic Mass in awhile? Is it frowned upon to go to more than one church?

I always wondered if I were to get married as a gay/bi catholic it obviously wouldn‘t be through the Catholic Church. would it be wrong or offensive to include a lasso rosary during the ceremony?

(lasso rosary for reference)

https://preview.redd.it/yvgwt81ksxah1.jpg?width=474&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c2b12987323cc30a460dff7e897cf4b20a565a2

I was baptised Orthodox as a baby, but was never taught anything about our religion by my single mom.

Growing up I didn’t think about religion, then turned hardcore atheist during puberty, then explored Hellenic paganism and eventually converted to Islam. I spent 2 years practising it on and off and eventually went atheist for another year.

Then this March I randomly watched Conclave (2024) and experienced a major pull towards Catholicism. At first it was vibes-based, but upon exploring the differenced between Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism I came to a conclusion Catholicism is closest to me.

And I happened to live 30 minutes by foot away from a Catholic church, despite Catholicism being an extreme minority in my Orthodox majority area. So I started attending it.

And today when I entered my mom’s room I saw a cross on a string hanging from a shelf, which I recognised as the cross I was baptised with and wore for my entire childhood until I eventually took it off. I showed it to my mom and she was so shocked and told me she looked everywhere, but couldn’t find it since 2022. She started talking about it.

So I decided to bite the bullet and tell her I’ve been so desperate applying to a college and so unsure they will accept me that I went in a church. She told me well done and asked which one, the one behind X place? I said close to it. She told me she knows there’s a Catholic church somewhere nearby and I admitted it’s the one I visited and offered to come with me someday. She said she only knows that Catholics cross left to right and not right to left. But said all believe in the same God anyway. I and told her about church similarities and differences: pews, no candles, no incense, but that they also have icons, priests, Bible readings, the Eucharist, making sure to add that a priest told me I can’t receive it (yet) because I’m not officially a Catholic. 

And told her about OCIA that starts this September and she asked if I want to go. I told her yes, adding that no one forces you to convert during it and that it’s good to just learn about the faith more. She said “of course take it”. I honestly didn’t even expect such a positive reaction.

I kept telling her different facts about Catholicism and my church and she told me she's proud of me for going.

I doubt my baptism certificate is preserved to this day anyway, so I hope to undergo OCIA and receive a conditional baptism in my wonderful Catholic church under my true, chosen name. And finally become a full member of the church that made me finally feel at home🤍

I posted this in the excatholic sub but thought people might enjoy it here too

Every single one ive been to was an alt right wing hell hole,,,,

God bless the Paulist Fathers

The closing quote they gave during announcements regarding the final Sunday of Pride and the love my parish has for the LGBT community was "There are no closets in God's House." The applause was THUNDEROUS!!!

Almighty God, His Sacred Heart and His Infinite Love is truly with The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta, GA ❤️‍🔥🌈🙏✝️

I know that many in this subreddit think that ssa is not a sin and I don't need to negate it to live in Christ, but please listen.

I have been thinking a lot lately, researching and praying, and i have come to the conclusion that I must stop seeking being with another man, but I don't know if I can do it.

For some context im a guy in my early 20s, I think im bisexual and have never dated anyone. Lately I have struggling a lot with being single while most people around me are dating(pathetic, I know) and it affected more than I thought it would. So i started praying for a boyfriend/girlfriend, and after sometime I questioned if it was a sin to pray for a boyfriend (I have always thought that having ssa was something natural, That God made us that way, and as long as its a health and serious relationship in God it was alright, that love couldneverbe a sin, and no one should go to hell for loving another person). So I started research and praying and come to the conclusion that God wants me to resing from homossexuality and live a "straight life".

And it should be pretty easy to just resing, I still am atracted to woman(which is more luck than others with ssa have) so i can still fall for a woman and have a wife, I don't have a boyfriend i need to break up with, not even a crush. But I know deep down that I can't keep this promise, that eventually I will fall into temptation again and sin, that the first time a boy that looks at me I will break this promise. And even if I never have anything with a boy, always a part of me will wonder how it would have been and wish I at least kissed someone before doing it.

There is also a lot of gay culture around me, I have a lot of LGBT friends, and like many queer media. And I know that I should move always from this, but I'm scared that if I distance myself from my friend I will end up alone again (im very shy, and struggle making new friends)

Anyway, I know what I have to do but i don't have the strength to do it. Pray for me, thank you

Hey all, I’m sorry if this has been asked a million times before. I’m a trans girl who is looking to convert to Catholicism, the problem is that all of the resources I’ve been recommended (like New Ways Ministries) have only pointed to churches quite far from me. I asked this question last night in the trans Christianity sub and was met with a lot of people telling me to just go to an Episcopalian church, which I understand their point, but I’d rather to keep to the Catholic faith. I live in a very rural, conservative part of Missouri, somewhat close to Springfield if that at all helps. I’m willing to accept anything that isn’t outright hostile at this point. Thank you all in advance, I’m very thankful I stumbled upon this subreddit.

I don’t want anyone to comment you don’t need to cure please that’s not an option. I just want someone to tell me if there is honestly a way and if you have gone through conversion therapy does it actually work?

Obviously in this sub, most of us know Fr. James Martin for his LGBTQ advocacy. But he has a few other endeavors as well. Currently he's promoting his new book, Work in Progress, about what all his prior jobs taught him before he entered the Jesuits. He's also written a few books about Jesus, has appeared on a few podcasts, and I think he has his own podcast now, too, about various spiritual topics.

Has anyone here engaged any of his other work? What are your thoughts?

I've read The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything. I thought it was pretty good.

During the pandemic lockdown in 2020; I also started watching his then-daily Bible study livestreams; which he started to build community during that isolating time. I'm grateful for those broadcasts because it was really the first time I got to experience his ministry directly; and not just what his critics say about him. It was a very mind-opening experience for me back then.

Hi, bi woman (30s) here 👋 I'm wondering how people navigate the (already abysmal for more general reasons) dating scene being both LGBTQ+ and Catholic? I'm kind of a hodgepodge of beliefs that don't fit cleanly into any sociopolitical bracket (I'm someone who thinks very critically about things and believes what makes the most sense to me from a mostly logical standpoint - I know, I am a terrible person according to the Internet mob 😭) and some of my thoughts would probably get me kicked out of more conservative-leaning Catholic social circles for being too liberal. But I'm also a regular weekly Mass attendee, am pretty marriage-oriented (I don't like casual dating culture at all), sing in choir, etc. and my church community and my faith are very important to me. I feel like I'm either too progressive for most single devout Catholics or too religious for most single LGBTQ+ folks, but I'm not willing to compromise either aspect of my person just to force a relationship that wouldn't even be a good fit in the first place. So...how is it even possible to find like-minded people? I get that I'm a weird outlier even among outliers but to quote The X-Files out of context "I want to believe" (lol) it's possible to find someone compatible whom I won't feel the need to hide parts of myself around.

I'm also neurodivergent (seeking an AuDHD diagnosis) and have had lifelong struggles with anxiety and mental illness (OCD, depression, trauma). so those are additional complications that just make the whole issue too overwhelming to even contemplate sometimes. My last bf had similar issues and we initially connected over that shared understanding, but he leaned more conservative socially and in retrospect I don't think it would've been a good fit long-term, especially when I learned that he seemed to have some...outdated views regarding neurodivergence and mental health care (ironic considering he himself had ADHD). Idk I'm rambling now, apologies, it's just gotten to the point where dating just seems impossible and I've kind of given up lol