Pastoral Resources
These links are provided as a courtesy to our website visitors as locations where additional information on support to Gay and Lesbian Catholics and their families can be found. Providing these links in no way constitutes an endorsement by CALGM of any views expressed on these sites which may not conform to Catholic Teaching.
A Developing List of Pastoral Reference Materials
Pastoral resources for LGBT issues, including diocesan information
Contact Rev. Jim Schexnayder at rd@calgm.org
Statements supporting ministry to GLBT persons: pastoral statements by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the U.S. Catholic Conference, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Catholic Catechism, and other Catholic Church leaders on ministry to GLBT persons. These are helpful when promoting or initiating local church ministries: www.calgm.org/sites/default/files/Support for GLBTMinistry.doc
Ministerial Response to Children of Same-Sex Couples: What insights does Canon Law provide in the current debates about responding to the spiritual needs of the baptized children of same-sex couples? www.calgm.org/sites/default/files/Children of Same Sex Couples 2010.doc
Pastoral resources for parents of persons who are gay or lesbian
Contact Casey and Mary Ellen Lopata at info@fortunatefamilies.com or visit the Fortunate Families Website: www.fortunatefamilies.org. For information about the Listening Parents Network, see the brochure at fortunatefamilies.com/docs/LP%20brochure%20for%20Web%20Site.pdf
Pastoral resources for parish ministries
Contact Ann McDonald at annmc@stbernadette.org
Pastoral resources for Transsexual persons
Contact Sr. Luisa DeRouen, O.P. at SrLuisaOP@aol.com
"Let’s Talk About Homosexuality"
This series, originally created as an adult education program and carried for 14 weeks on the website of a Midwest Catholic parish, is intended for anyone interested in learning more about homosexuality and the pastoral challenges it raises for Catholics.
Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) Special Report - Summer 2004 www.calgm.org/sites/default/files/CARARPT.pdf This CARA Report, "In Search of Best Practices in Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Catholics," presents a portrait of experiences and best practices among successful ministries to gay and lesbian Catholics that other parishes and dioceses may use as a guide.
Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers - A Statement of the Bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family - October 3, 2001
Siempre Serán Nuestros Hijos: Un mensaje pastoral a los padres con hijos homosexuales y sugerencias para agentes pastorales - Una declaración del Comité de Obispos para el Matrimonio y la Familia - October 3, 2001
NACDLGM's Guidelines for Implementing Always Our Children in parishes. - June 2003 Follow this link for practical guidelines developed by this organization under its old name (the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries) for putting Always Our Children into practice at the local level: www.calgm.org/sites/default/files/ImplementingAOC.doc
"What Does Gay Mean?" - National Mental Health Association