More than a Monologue: Sexual Diversity and the Catholic Church

While a recent poll indicates that approximately two-thirds of Americans believe that same-sex marriage should be legalized, the Catholic Church hierarchy remains intransigent in opposition. There is, however, a refreshing dialogue occurring within Catholicism regarding the lives of LGBTQ persons. Firer Hinze and Hornbeck, both professors at Fordham University, have collected a wide spectrum of essays regarding how LGBTQ individuals live out their sexual lives with dignity and authenticity. Included are the testimonies of theologians, parents, pastors, and a physician, alongside Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and Dan Savage, the nationally syndicated sex columnist who shares an emotionally gripping story about growing up gay and Catholic. The personal nature of several of these essays makes the collection especially riveting. These conversations are immensely healthy for the Church, so it is unfortunate that few bishops will condone them. These authors have invited Catholics and others to have dialogues about important issues that seriously affect a group valiantly finding its voice in an often resistant religious culture. Thoughtful Catholics and LGBTQ allies can help move the conversation forward. (Apr.)