by Angela Hanley

ANGELA HANLEY reflects on the significance of a remarkable apology from the Vatican and Pope Francis’ efforts to connect with the LGBT+ community

If there is one thing the Church leadership does not do well, it is offering apologies. There is a sad and painful legacy of this great lack in the way survivors of abuse have been treated. Historically, Church leadership has tended to rely on institutional amnesia. Or by the time the truth is known on a given matter, the people most affected will have died. This has especially been the case with reform minded theologians and biblical scholars. That is why a timely apology from the Vatican is noteworthy. It is even more so when the matter concerns LGBT+ issues, given the implacable resistance by the Vatican’s doctrinal department, the CDF, to accept and embrace the full humanity of our LGBT+ sisters and brothers.

The Catholic advocacy group New Ways Ministry submitted a video presentation as part of the consultation process of Synod 2023, which was included on the Synod ‘Resources’ web page. This video was removed without consultation with New Ways Ministry in early December 2021. According to a report in America magazine, it was suspected that the American Bishops’ Conference was responsible for its removal because of its long-held antipathy towards the pastoral work of New Ways.