Bondings 2.0 | New Ways Ministry: Building Bridges Between …

TheALL ARE WELCOMEseries is an occasional feature on this blog thathighlights Catholic parishes and faith communities that support and affirm LGBT people.

Two parishevents in recent months reveal the ways in whichCatholics are expanding LGBT welcome and propellingconversations about family in the Catholic Church.

The first example comes from the Life Questions group at St. Edward Churchin Racine, Wisconsin, whichheld two events last November, according toThe Journal Times, dealing first with marriage and second withpastoral care ofLGBT people.

In the first session, attorney Mark Hinkston explained the differences between civil and sacramental marriage. Given marriage equalitys inevitability in civil law and the Catholic bishops opposition, he asked participants:

Can there be a middle ground?It will be interesting to see how the practical situation plays out and to what extent the church will take notice.

In the second session, Fr. Allen Bratkowski, the pastor, and Deacon Keith Hansen, who has experience in LGBT ministry, focused on welcoming lesbian and gay people within the church. Hansen reiterated the discomfort that LGBT people feel, even while possessing a deep faith and said parishes need to be more welcoming than we are. He continued:

We struggle in our church to accept all of our neighbors, as Jesus taught us to loveGod loves all of his creations unconditionally and we are called to do the same.

We need to let [gay people]know We need you to be our ushers and to serve on our parish councilsWe need to say You are part of Gods church, please join us.

Fr. Bratkowski responded to parishioners practical questions about how to include LGBT people andreminded participantsthat the church does evolve and change. He also said he would baptize children whose parents are in a same-gender relationship.

The second example comes from a group ofCatholic parishes in Waterloo, Iowa, thatare hosting seven Listening Sessions in the coming year for inactive Catholics and Catholic seekers. They describe the sessions in the following way:

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Bondings 2.0 | New Ways Ministry: Building Bridges Between ...