Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

The Experience Of A Pastoral Advocate And Implications For The Church, Bryan Massingale

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

This chapter presents a critique—based on the chapter’s author’s own experiences as a university teacher, parish minister, and pastoral advocate—of the deleterious effects of what he calls “the pervasive climate of fear” and reactivity that surrounds even modest attempts at open conversation among Catholics about sexual diversity and the church. It suggest that this climate of fear is debilitating and dangerous, especially within a faith community charged by Jesus to “be not afraid.” Left unaddressed, this fear has wide-ranging effects that threaten the well-being not only of LGBT Catholics but of all Catholics and indeed the very mission and identity …