Belonging, Baptism and the Gift of LGBT+ Catholics in the Church
Dear Delegates,
I write as a Catholic who loves the Church and who believes deeply in the Gospel’s call to welcome, accompany and affirm the dignity of every person.
I am grateful that the Irish Synodal Pathway has identified Belonging as one of its priority themes.
The many listening conversations across Ireland have revealed a profound desire for a Church where people feel seen, heard and valued.
For many LGBT+ Catholics, however, the experience of belonging remains uncertain.
As LGBT+ Catholics, we are first and foremost baptised members of the Body of Christ. Our primary identity is not defined by labels but by our baptism. We pray, worship, serve, love and contribute to parish life. We are sons and daughters, parents, grandparents, friends, ministers, volunteers and faithful disciples seeking to follow Jesus.
Many LGBT+ Catholics have experienced exclusion, silence or the feeling that their lives are spoken about rather than spoken with. This can lead to deep spiritual pain and, for some, separation from the Church they still love.
The Synodal process has repeatedly emphasised listening. Genuine listening requires more than hearing about people; it requires hearing directly from them. I therefore ask that the Church in Ireland commit itself to creating spaces where LGBT+ Catholics and their families can share their experiences openly and respectfully as part of ongoing synodal discernment.
I also ask the Assembly to recognise clearly that LGBT+ Catholics belong in the Church, not as outsiders who seek admission, but as baptised members of the People of God whose gifts enrich our communities.
Pope Francis frequently reminded us that the Church is called to accompany people and to walk with them. Accompaniment begins with relationship, respect and welcome. It does not require the abandonment of faith, but it does require a commitment to encounter and dialogue.
My hope is that the Church in Ireland will become known as a place where no person doubts their God-given dignity and where every baptised person can hear the words: “You belong.”
As the Assembly reflects on the themes of Proclaiming the Gospel, Belonging, Healing, Co-Responsibility and Women, I pray that it will also hear the voices of LGBT+ Catholics who continue to seek a spiritual home within the Church and who wish to contribute fully to its life and mission.
The question at the heart of the Synodal Pathway has been: What does God want from the Church in Ireland at this time?
Perhaps one answer is this: that we become a Church where every baptised person is welcomed, listened to and loved.
With prayerful best wishes,
Jim Cunningham
Antrim,
County Antrim