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Social Justice Corner: New Hope
Published July 4, 2026
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New Hope
Submitted by Ann Castiglione
(from the New Ways Ministry June 2026 Newsletter by Francis DeBernardo)
I recently read something about the Catholic Church and the LGBTQ+ community and found two hopeful notes. First, a Synod Study Group (Group 9) released a report that provides a way to look at the lives of LGBTQ persons through the social justice and human dignity lens. It includes, for the first time, the stories of two openly gay Catholics. The report asked the question, “What does the experience of suffering, solitude and exclusion…say to and bring to the Christian community?” (bolding for emphasis)
Secondly, several bishops attended a meeting in Racine with members of New Ways Ministry, including theologians, pastoral workers, and LGBTQ+ persons. Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe New Mexico indicated it “deepened my pastoral concern, [and] understanding.” He was “struck by an urgent need for a pastoral approach that compassionately listens.”
This open dialog between bishops and the LGBTQ community is definitely a sign of hope!