Announcing... The Most Exciting Thing I've Ever Done
(that I can remember)
Welcome, creatures! This is a special edition of your favorite penitential-candy-dispensing-dragon-themed newsletter, in which I tell you about what is absolutely the most important project I’ve ever worked on. This is a gay Catholic thing, so some of you will not be that into it, though I hope even you guys read on. Next week I promise I’ll be back with a short book note about a weird British summer and some ramblings about the relationship of reason and ecstasy. But for now…
A couple years ago, a guy by the name of Michael emailed me with something nobody had said to me before: “By the time people google ‘gay and Catholic’ or whatever, and find you, they’re probably already kind of a mess. They’ve probably already got a fraught relationship with the Church and a lot of exciting emotional and spiritual issues. What if we could reach people, helping them to build deep trust in God and envision a Catholic future for themselves, before they got all tangled up? What if we had Catholic education, for all ages, which encouraged gay kids in both self-acceptance and fidelity? What if the next generation started out way ahead of where we did?”
WHAT IF, right?? This was so obviously the correct approach that I was shocked and a little sad to realize nobody had done it. As far as I know, nobody has ever done what we’re doing now: gathering a group of Catholics who accept Church teaching and identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or same-sex attracted, to create educational materials that are orthodox, hopeful, age-appropriate, and creative. We come from a wide range of backgrounds and have had pretty wildly-varied experiences in the Church. All of us, but maybe especially the cradle Catholics, can say that we’re trying to create the education we wish we’d had.
Lol if you are thinking that this sounds a little bit like a pitch, you have a keen nose and a glossy coat, my friend! In October, a group of about ten people will gather to begin this process. We’ll hammer out some frameworks to use and create the first drafts of a few different resources—maybe worksheets, history lessons, retreat formats, workshops for ministry leaders, whatever seems to hit that sweet spot of super necessary and super possible. To do this, we do need some cash. Hence this Kickstarter, with its very cool photograph!
It’s my belief that the work necessary to incorporate gay people fully into our churches will affect far more than just queer Catholics. If you are interested in renewing a deeper vision of friendship, exploring alternative kinship forms, connecting love of Jesus with love of those on the margins (including those who have left the Church or don’t fully accept Her teaching), making Catholicism artsier and weirder but not in a creepy way… I think we’ll help with all those things!
But mostly—most urgently—I think we will make our churches safer for gay youth. I can’t tell you how many people I know who have struggled with shame, self-hatred, and thoughts of suicide because they did not believe that Christ loved them or had a place for them in His Church. Some of those people are working on this project. They’re working toward a future where gay kids are certain of God’s love and the Church’s welcome. We’re very far from that now.
I hope you will donate if and as you can, and I also really hope you’ll share this project with others who might be interested. Definitely let me know any questions or thoughts you have. I can’t wait to see what comes of this beginning.