New Ways Ministry
On same-sex blessings, some Catholics celebrate change while others point to limits
By Claire Giangravé — December 19, 2023
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The Vatican’s declaration allowing blessings for ‘irregular’ couples seems to have deepened an already strong divide between conservatives and progressives in the church.
Back and forth continues over ‘queer and trans nuns’ inclusion in Dodgers Pride Night
By Alejandra Molina — May 31, 2023
(RNS) — At least one Roman Catholic nun has publicly spoken in support of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence ‘for their financial assistance to those in need.’
Pope Francis at 10 years: A reformer’s learning curve
By Nicole Winfield — March 13, 2023
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The pope who once envisioned a papacy of 'two or three' years shows no signs of slowing down.
This Pride Month, Catholic Church shows clear, if subtle, shifts toward LGBTQ welcome
By Claire Giangravé — June 27, 2022
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — From welcoming trans women at the Vatican to promoting LGBTQ outreach around the world, some advocates say Pope Francis has created a space for inclusion without fear.
Vatican official apologizes for deleting video from Catholic LGBTQ outreach group
By Jack Jenkins — December 13, 2021
(RNS) — New Ways Ministry called the church's apology on LGBTQ matters a 'historic moment.'
Six things you need to know about Pope Francis and gay civil unions
By Thomas Reese — October 23, 2020
(RNS) — Pope Francis' comments about civil unions for same-sex partners in a new documentary have caused a stir. How to understand his positions.
Divided reactions in US as pope backs same-sex civil unions
By David Crary and Elana Schor — October 22, 2020
(AP) — Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, was one of the first conservative Catholic leaders to go public with criticism.
Teachers at religious schools fear Supreme Court took away their civil rights
By Yonat Shimron — July 22, 2020
(RNS) — This month’s Supreme Court ruling established that any religious school teacher who performs a religious function is beyond the reach of civil rights protections accorded to other workers.
LGBT groups criticize decision to eject them from church near World Meeting event
By Rosie Scammell — August 19, 2015
(RNS) The “Transforming Love: Exploring Gender Identity from Catholic Perspectives” workshop was scheduled to take place Sept. 26 at Philadelphia’s St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Gay Catholics find a new tone under Pope Francis, and from their own bishops
By David Gibson — February 16, 2015
ROME (RNS) New Ways Ministry and a similar Catholic LGBT organization in Britain are finding support from the Catholic hierarchy in their efforts to meet the pontiff.
Catholic bishops narrowly reject a wider welcome to gays, divorced Catholics
By Josephine McKenna — October 18, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Saturday's vote was an abrupt about-face from Monday's mid-term report from the Synod, which spoke of "welcoming homosexual persons" and acknowledging the gifts they have to offer the wider church.
Vatican debate on gays provokes strong reaction from all corners
By Josephine McKenna — October 10, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Should families welcome their gay son and his partner home at Christmas? Lay Catholics say yes, and one leading cardinal calls it "evil."
The Rev. Bob Nugent, silenced for his work with gay Catholics, dies at 76
By Kevin Eckstrom — January 2, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) The scrutiny of the Rev. Bob Nugent's activism symbolized the Vatican's approach to all talk of homosexuality under Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI compared with the more tolerant "who am I to judge?" tone set recently by Pope Francis.
When Catholic schools fire gay teachers, laity push back
By Lauren Markoe — October 7, 2013
(RNS) The firing of a gay teacher's from a Catholic school used to be a private affair. But with a majority of Catholics supporting the spread of legalized gay marriage, more and more, the laity is calling the church out.
ANALYSIS: Can gay Catholics find a home in the Catholic Church?
By David Gibson — May 23, 2013
(RNS) As U.S. Catholics grow increasingly accepting of homosexuality, there's going to be inevitable conflict as an uneasy “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” policy clashes with gay Catholics' increasing visibility in the form of marriage licenses or wedding announcements.
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