By Peter Pinedo
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 7, 2024 / 16:08 pm
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., speaking at the “Outreach” Conference for Catholics who identify as LGBTQ, stressed the need for unity in what he called “an extraordinary if not risky moment for our Church and country.”
In his homily, Gregory said that “the presence and the pastoral needs of our LGBTQ sisters and brothers may often be viewed as a volatile topic, but they must be faced with sincerity and genuine compassion.”
He called the conference "an opportunity for people to listen to one another in love, knowing full-well that we might see another’s position as difficult to understand and to accept." He went on to shared his hope that the event would advance the goal of making the Church “stronger, holier, and more welcoming.”
According to the conference's website, Outreach “gathers LGBTQ laypeople, clergy, scholars, artists, educators, students, and family members to build community, share best practices, and worship together.”
The gathering is organized by Outreach, a Catholic LGBTQ resource group founded by Jesuit priest and theologian Father James Martin.
This year the conference took place Aug. 2–4 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The event included several talks, panel discussions, times for prayer, and social events. By presiding over the Saturday Mass in Georgetown’s Dahlgren Chapel, Gregory became the first cardinal to participate in the conference.
During his homily, he emphasized that both the Church and nation are at a critical moment, one that demands open dialogue.
“Our national unity needs constant attention as does the unity of our Church. Unity does not mean uniformity or sameness of opinion in heart and mind,” he clarified. “There is a word that we frequently use to describe the spiritual connectedness that must be the goal of our Catholic Church: communion.”
The cardinal praised conference attendees for being “dedicated to the pursuit of our becoming a more inclusive family of faith, welcoming others in spite of our differences.”
He said that such a pursuit is an “act of synodality” and that “sincerely and openly speaking and listening to one another under the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit is the way that the Church grows in perfection.”
He expressed concern for the state of the Church and nation, decrying what he called an “increase in violence, the forfeiture of civility in public discourse, the disavowal of once well-known hallowed values.”
Pope Francis also expressed spiritual closeness to the conference, saying in a July 11 note to Martin that he was “glad” that Gregory would celebrate the opening Mass.
“I will be spiritually with him and with all of you, united in prayer,” Francis said. “May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin care for you.”
The Archdiocese of Washington declined to comment further on the conference and Gregory’s participation.
