With the election of Pope Leo XIV, LGBTQ Catholics who viewed Pope Francis as a progressive force for acceptance are now hopeful for continued change. Marianne Duddy-Burke, from DignityUSA, expressed excitement about the new pope’s focus on social justice and inclusive love. Similarly, Jason Steidl Jack, a gay Catholic academic, remains cautiously optimistic about Leo continuing the legacy of dialogue begun by Francis, despite fears about the Church’s existing homophobic teachings.
Steidl Jack highlighted that while Leo’s election doesn’t eliminate concerns about LGBTQ acceptance, his open remarks about unconditional God’s love provide reassurance. Chicago’s Greg Krajewski, a lifelong Catholic, also noted hopeful aspects of Leo’s message but stressed the need for cautious engagement as a gay man within the Church.
Concerns linger due to Leo’s past comments, particularly from a 2012 bishops’ synod where he criticized media portrayals of “alternative families,” which were seen as sympathetic to LGBTQ issues. Francis DeBernardo from New Ways Ministry urged patience, hoping Leo has evolved in his views since then.
The discourse around LGBTQ issues in the Church has changed significantly in the past decade, with recent stats showing 70% of U.S. Catholics support marriage equality, up from 57% in 2014. Michael O’Loughlin from Outreach expressed an open-minded approach while acknowledging the disappointing past remarks.
Going forward, advocates like Duddy-Burke hope Leo will provide a moral voice on societal issues. Steidl Jack emphasized the importance of listening to diverse voices within the Church, particularly regarding LGBTQ experiences, while maintaining that Pope Leo has the opportunity to build on the welcoming framework initiated by Pope Francis.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
