In anticipation of Pope Francis’ potential visit to Philadelphia next year, a group of Pennsylvania Catholics has written the pontiff, urging him to create a more-inclusive church for the LGBT community.
In September, Philadelphia will host the 2015 World Meeting of Families, the largest Catholic gathering in the world.
The agenda of the meeting will be of great debate and speculation over the coming year.
Keystone Catholics, a progressive advocacy group comprised of Catholics from across the state, wrote a letter on behalf of 35 Pennsylvanian Catholic leaders urging the pope to make the pastoral care of LGBT Catholics an agenda priority for the upcoming World Meeting of Families.
The letter comes on the heels of the pope’s Extraordinary Synod of the Family — happening through Oct. 19 in Rome — in which he is expected to discuss issues surrounding the modern Catholic family, such as divorce, same-sex marriage, parenting and non-married couples.
Keystone Catholics pointed out in its letter that many LGBT Catholics face discrimination in their faith communities.
According to their letter, there have been 33 recorded instances of antigay discrimination within the American Catholic Church since Pope Francis ascended to the position in March 2013.
James Salt, executive director of Catholics United, called for an end to antigay discrimination in the church.
“If the Catholic Church wants to move forward as a voice of moral authority in the United States, it must end any antigay discrimination within its faith communities,” Salt said. “No Catholic should be barred from participating in the life of the faith because of their sexual orientation.”
To shed light on the issue, Human Rights Campaign Religion & Faith Program will host a vigil at sundown Oct. 17 at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at Logan Square.
Organizers of the local vigil said they hope it sheds light on the continued homophobia and transphobia proclaimed by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput.
“They are calling for him to return to the roots of the Gospel, the basis of the Catholic faith and recognize their humanity and their right to seek civil recognition of their relationships and their families,” organizers said.
To learn more about Keystone Catholics, visit www.keystonecatholics.org. For more information on the HRC’s faith initiatives, visit www.hrc.org/synod.
