“From Our Peripheries”

Because it’s part of a Vatican apology, I’m willing to accept the characterization of peripheral. A Vatican apology, you say? When has that ever happened? Last week, as it turns out.

Thierry Bonaventura, the communications manager of the Synod of Bishops’ office, apologized to “all LGBTQ people” and republished the link to the New Ways Ministry webinar that he had taken down. He also established a new section of their regular newsletter called “From the Peripheries” “in which we will present from time to time the contribution that comes to us from our ecclesial ‘peripheries.’” OK. That’s pretty honest about how church renewal advocates are seen in Rome, but I’d much rather be seen than invisible.

Bonaventura concluded “Certainly, LGBTQ groups and those groups who feel they live on the ‘margins’ of the Church can direct their contributions, resources, or what they want to share with the whole people of God to webmaster@synodresources.org.” One regular reader of this blog immediately sent a statement in favor of inclusive ministry. Maybe more of you have done so, and I encourage all to do the same. 

Looking at texts and people is an occupational hazard for a historian, and I am charmed by Bonaventura’s post. He includes his photo in front of a Monet bridge and concludes: “In walking together, sometimes one may fall, the important thing is to get back up with the help of the brothers and sisters.” The last is not quite as inclusive as LGBTQ, but fraternal in the Francis sense. And remember how the Synod on Youth couldn’t quite get to that usage in the final document. He does here.

Bonaventura’s previous job was as spokesman for the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). Maybe he had a background photo of a narrow path then, for results of a search show him treading carefully among the bishops’ varying positions on Amoris Laetitia, the controversial encyclical on love and marriage, as well as on other issues. Here he’s clearly trying to build a bridge. He said he had “personally taken the initiative to de-publish a post promoted by the reality ‘New Ways Ministries’ for internal procedural reasons. This brought pain to the entire LGBTQ community who once again felt left out.” I think “reality” is an oddity of translation, but plenty of us are suspicious that we are going to be left out of the synod process. I am happy that he gets that.

Now, how did he get that? Not from my blog last week, but I did note a tweet by James Martin, SJ, that drew conservative media attention to the New Ways resource on the Vatican website. This week Martin tweeted Bonaventura’s response in the newsletter. I was originally going to write about who gets listened to in the Vatican, but I decided to be more positive about the post itself. I do call Martin a “friend of Francis,” and I’m sure that status helped. And you do remember that his book is Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.

Frank DeBernardo, Executive Director, confirms: “New Ways Ministry had not requested [an apology] making this gesture all the more authentic.” He picks up on the visual metaphor in the press release:

“Apologies are powerful in their ability to build bridges of reconciliation and justice. Mr. Bonaventura’s kind words and his reposting of the video will be effective helping to repair the rift that exists between LGBTQ people and Catholic institutions. His actions are an example of the amazing grace which can be brought to life when one practices honesty and humility, and is concerned about how one’s actions may harm other people.”

New Ways is characterized as “a leading Catholic L.G.B.T.Q. advocacy group” by the AP’s Nicole Winfield in an article reprinted in America below a fabulous photo of a rainbow over St. Peter’s Square. She notes “Other U.S. resources alongside [the video] were the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the archdioceses of Boston and Newark,” and uses “flip flop” to describe “the mixed messages the Holy See over the years” on LGBTQ issues. 

The staff of LaCroix International summarize the video story as well. They review the organization’s website and conclude:

“New Ways Ministry educates and advocates for justice and equality for LGBTQ Catholics, and reconciliation within the larger church and civil communities. Members work as ‘bridge-builders reaching out to gay and lesbian people and at the same time to people working within the Church and Church structures.” They quote: “Through research, publication and education about sexual orientation and gender identity, we foster dialogue among groups and individuals, identify and combat personal and structural homophobia and transphobia, work for changes in attitudes and promote the acceptance of LGBTQ people as full and equal members of church and society.” 

Would that WOC receive such favorable publicity! At the same time that we rejoice for the affirmation of our allied organization, we bear in mind that the gaffe by the Vatican office is probably repeated in Catholic contexts that we ourselves inhabit. WOC’s Anti-Oppression team, at the request of the Board, has developed statements of WOC’s values that begin and end as follows: 

Full & equal participation by people of all genders

The Church, in fidelity to the gospel, must be open to the full and equal participation of women and people of all gender identities in all its ministries.

Anti-oppression

The Anti-Oppression Team is responsible for developing strategies that deepen WOC’s commitment to full inclusivity and equity within the structure of WOC itself and in the Roman Catholic Church. WOC values diverse identities, genders, and ministries as we strive to create a church and society where everyone is free to respond to God’s call without regard to race, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.

As we conclude Advent this week, reading WOC’s Values again will help us think about our work of the past year and our plans for the year ahead in light of our deeper goals. We may be on the periphery, and we do not want to marginalize anyone.