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A pro-LGBTQ+ Catholic conference at Georgetown University over the weekend drew a protest while its organizer defended it as a much-needed ministry.
The three-day “Outreach” event at the Catholic institution included speakers, panels, liturgies and networking. The conference drew “LGBTQ lay people, clergy, scholars, artists, educators, students and family members,” according to its website.
Panels included “LGBTQ Catholics and chastity,” “Celebrating the transgender Catholic experience,” “Caring for the whole LGBTQ person,” and “Outreach guide to the Bible and homosexuality.”
“[M]ore and more Catholic campus ministries are realizing the need to reach out to LGBTQ students,” Fr. James Martin, founder of Outreach, told The College Fix.
“They need pastoral care as much as any student does,” said Martin, a Jesuit priest, a consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, and a member of the Synod of Bishops, according to his online bio.
But nearly 32,000 people have signed a petition denouncing the event.
“Not only does Fr. Martin support transgenderism for children, but he also endorses blasphemous ‘Pride Masses,’ blessings for sinful unions, and sacrilegious ‘rainbow rosaries.’ In short, his message is this: ‘Accept homosexuality. Subvert the Church,'” the petition states.
The petition was launched by TFP Student Action, a project of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property.
John Ritchie, director of TFP Action, said it was important to protest the event, noting 11 young Catholics with the group traveled to Georgetown University and held a peaceful Rosary rally and demonstration outside the conference.
Their signs included “Sodomy is not a family value” and “Love Christ? Keep his commandments.”
“We believe it is important for Catholics to publicly witness when errors against the Faith are promoted, especially at Catholic institutions,” Ritchie said in an email to The College Fix. “Public prayer serves as a witness to the truth and offers reparation for offenses against God.”
“We went to Georgetown to proclaim that 2,000 years of Catholic teaching cannot be reconciled with the promotion of homosexual acts or transgender ideology.”
During the conference, Cardinal Robert McElroy delivered a homily in which he spoke on grace.
“In today’s second reading from the Letter to the Romans, Paul reflects that abundant mercy of God when he speaks of sinfulness in our lives, and true redemption (5:12-15). He forthrightly acknowledges that every woman and man is enmeshed in sin, and all of us have contributed to the breakdown in the divine plan for humanity that torments our world and tears our souls asunder,” he said.
Georgetown University’s media affairs division did not respond to a request for comment.
Martin responded to TFP’s concerns in his email to The College Fix.
“We’re used to the occasional protest,” he said. “Sadly, there’s still a lot of homophobia in our country, our world and our church.”
“It was ironic though since the local bishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy, celebrated Mass for us the next day,” he added. “Too bad the protesters didn’t stay to hear Cardinal McElroy’s homily about mercy and compassion.”
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