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  • Confronting Religious Arguments

    Recently we released a special report on guidelines for addressing religious arguments. This document can serve as a tool that you can use in your community to create dialogue about the immense harm caused to LGBT individuals, especially youth. Download the report here.

    Watch examples of this messaging at work at a recent community forum.

Catholic Initiative

In the Catholic Church people with “homosexual tendencies” are encouraged not to come out to the general public because the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states, “In the context of parish life, however, general public self disclosures are not helpful and should not be encouraged.” [Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care, pg 17]

Faith In America is launching our Catholic Initiative to show the Conference of Catholic Bishops that a person’s sexuality is not a choice and that religion-based bigotry causes enormous emotional harm to LGBT youth and adults. Suicide rates among LGBT youth are four times higher than heterosexual youth. LGBT people are victims of discrimination and bigotry, which is justified and promoted often by religious teaching that says homosexuality is immoral, sinful or an abomination. If we don’t talk about it, no one will know how much hurt and suffering it causes.

“6. Does denying marriage to homosexual persons demonstrate unjust discrimination and a lack of respect for them as persons?
It is not unjust to deny legal status to same-sex unions because marriage and same-sex unions are essentially different realities. In fact, justice requires society to do so.

To uphold God’s intent for marriage, in which sexual relations have their proper and exclusive place, is not to offend the dignity of homosexual persons. Christians must give witness to the whole moral truth and oppose as immoral both homosexual acts and unjust discrimination against homosexual persons.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church urges that homosexual persons “be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity” (no. 2358). It also encourages chaste friendships. “Chastity is expressed notably in friendship with one’s neighbor. Whether it develops between persons of the same or opposite sex, friendship represents a great good for all” (no. 2347).” [Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions, November 12, 2003]

How can you get involved in the Catholic Initiative?

  1. Read Between Man and Woman and email the USCCB and tell your personal experiences with religion-based bigotry and the harm it causes.
  2. Write a letter to or email the Office of Government Relations and encourage the USCCB not to oppose same-sex marriage and domestic partnership efforts in Congress and across the country.
  3. Record a video for your Parish Council and USCCB to encourage greater acceptance of their LGBT members. Upload the video and we will share it on our YouTube page!
  4. Write a letter to the editor in your local newspaper or church publication.
  5. Host a letter writing or video event.

If you have questions about the Catholic Initiative or would like help with your efforts email catholicinitiative@faithinamerica.org.