Help us show our gratitude to all the Catholic Bishops who have so boldly and courageously signed “God Is On Your Side: A Statement from Catholic Bishops on Protecting LGBT Youth.”
Please add your name in support of the Catholic Bishops, and if you wish you can add a comment as well.
If your Bishop hasn’t signed, please reach out and encourage him to join us in sharing love and hope into our world.
1156 entries.
Thank you - this is an important issue.
Two years ago when I very nearly lost my queer child to suicide, I would keep the worst lamentations of my broken heart in my car. On the worst day, I sat in my driveway sobbing and screaming at God demanding to know why he would give me this beautiful, wonderful boy and then let him be taken away. It has been a long journey back to feeling joy again. I have only been in a church once since that day. It is too hard knowing how many people there do not want my child to exist or think he is an abomination or think I will go to hell for loving him.
I offer my humble and sincere gratitude for all of you that have followed in the way of Jesus as I know him and publicly shown support and love for families like mine. We carry a heavy load and we need the support and love of a church that values the precious lives of our children. My hope is that more bishops and clergy will join and that love will overcome the hate and fear. I hope that one day I will find my way back to a pew on Sunday.
We are all made in God's image. Furthermore, discrimination of any kind is against the teachings and examples of Jesus. Many thanks to those of you who are speaking out in support of the LBGTQ community.
Thank you for taking a stand against bullying in any form, but especially here against the LGBTQ12 Spirit community.
PHJC Volunteer Program.
As a mother of a gay daughter and a Catholic it makes me very happy to see all those in the Church who support her. Thank you.
"It is time to put away our fears and judgments and to look into the eyes of another , to gaze at the face of another " pg. 114 Sister Ilia Delio, The Hours of the Universe. 2021. Sawabona, I see you, in Swahili, is upstanding.
Congratulaciones. Shalom!!!
THANK YOU for taking this step towards true inclusion for ALL within the church!!
We see the person of Christ best in the faces of those with less status. Thank you for pointing us to the margins, where the spirit of Christ is fresh.
Thank you for your support of our LGBTQ youth. I pray that your openness will grow and expand through the entire church.
Thank you Bishops for your support of all God's beloved made in God's image.
May God continue to bless you as you stand with all He loves.
Bishops, thank for supporting our LGBTQ youth!
Thank you, Bishops, for this public statement on an issue that some might consider to be controversial. You lead by example in defense of dignity and love for all. Many thanks.
It is vitaly important to get the message out that God loves EVERYONE, full stop. There is no greater truth. Thank you to the Bishops that are promoting God's love for all people and promoting the dignity of life for all people.
Thank you to all the Bishops and religious leaders for supporting LGBTQ+ youth and the Tyler Clementi Foundation - a step in the right direction!
You have my deep gratitude for speaking out from a Spirit-led perspective of the whole Gospel and whole Cath. Social Tradition. Keep on keeping on. Your voices are vitally needed these days. Shalom.
One all are we, in the womb of the Blessed Trinity. That umbilical cord, because of the Creator, Liberator and Sanctifier’s unconditional love and divine mercy, can never be severed. Thank you to our wonderful LGBTQ+ siblings who evangelize us all and deepen our awareness of who we are, and whose we all are, as we try to ‘walk humbly, act justly and love tenderly’ (Micah 6) on our pilgrim path together in this part of the Kingdom.
The Archbishop of St. Louis told me he does not sign petitions.
Thank you brothers for your leadership and pastoral care.
Twenty years ago a suburban Catholic High School senior, whom I knew to be gay and to have been suicidal, approached me for help. In response to my "What do you want from me?" He replied, "Tell the gay students that God loves them!" I asked, "Why should I do that?" And he responded, "Because if you don't they will go to the wrong part of town for help and older men will take advantage of them!" When he graduated he told me "Isn't it strange that we have become friends?"
As an African American man in this country and in our Church, I know what it means to be estranged and marginalized by my own society. My heart goes out and my prayers are lifted for anyone and everyone who suffers the same treatment, especially within our Christian community. I greatly thank and applaud our bishops who have the courage to offer such a statement to the entire Catholic faithful.
Peace be with you, Bishops, for standing with ALL our sisters and brothers.
Thank you to the bishops who have signed this document. Your leadership is greatly appreciated.
I want to make all aware of a recently published document from the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP), entitled Faith Communities and the Well-Being of LGBT Youth. The booklet is available for free download at:
https://indd.adobe.com/view/60414ed6-6711-4192-96c1-40b7528c7ff2
or from the GAP website at: ourgap.org.
This booklet was prepared by the Psychiatry and Religion and LGBTQ+ Committees of GAP in an effort to share important research information with faith communities and faith leaders about the ways in which they can be helpful to promoting the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ young people in their communities.
We would also welcome any feedback about it and would be happy to answer any questions.
Michael Norko MD, MAR
Chair, Psychiatry and Religion Committee of GAP
Thank you to church leaders who stand up for our LGBTQ youth!
On behalf of the Leadership Team of the Congregation of St. Joseph, I am grateful for and heartened by this public action and prophetic stance taken in standing with and for our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. We are hopeful it will spark further reflection and discussion within our communities and Church.
Thank you for writing this. It is a step in the right direction for true inclusion.
Thank you Bishops who signed this support for all our sisters and brothers! Your witness is seen, preached, lived and witnessed.
Thank you!! Jesus loves all people! But He ask us to help Him to all people feel it!
Thank you for supporting our LGBTQ+ youth. They were created in God's image and many grew up in the Catholic faith. As they begin to realize that the direction of their future, it becomes a very difficult time for them. It usually is not what they exected as a child. They need all the support of those whom they have looked up to their whole lives, including their families and the people of their parishes. It is always said that we should turn to
God in difficult times, and they need to have their faith family as they grow into the amazing people that they become.
I offer my sincere gratitude for our leaders who speak with respect for life in all facets of where humans find themselves. This bespeaks the best of a consistent life ethic - thank you.
In my workplace I recently was selected to be part of our QPR Suicide Prevention Team.
QPR = Question… a person about suicide / Persuade… the person to get help / Refer… the person to an appropriate mental health resource. For many I know I shall reference: "God Is On Your Side."
Thanks to all the Church leaders who signed this, especially to Bishop Weisenburger. Arizona can be a difficult place to live for those who are gay and there is overt hostility by some of the religious in this diocese. I hope people will think and pray about loving our neighbors regardless of their sexual orientation.
Thank you for your support of LGBT youth. Your support is needed and appreciated.
As the parent of a LGBTQ child, I am thankful for church leadership who will take a stand for those who are marginalized. God Bless
Thank you, Bishops, for loving and caring for ALL the sheep in your flock.
Thank you for listening to your hearts and doing "what Jesus would do". It gives hope to so many.
Thank you Bishops for taking a prophetic stance in recognition of some of the most harassed and at-risk youth in today's world.
Love everyone
Thank you Bishops for recognizing the importance of all of Gods children, especially our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers.
Thank you Bishops!
Thank you for addressing this issue with love and acceptance. Your support is instrumental to the life of those who are marginalized and bullied. Peace.
Thank you.
I am so appreciative of these bishops who are speaking and acting so prophetically.
Thank you for your gospel leadership and pastoral care of our LBGTQ+ youth and community. Their beauty and goodness are a treasure that our church has neglected for too long. We belong to each other in Jesus, it's just as simple as that. Grace, peace and gratitude.
As the leader of the Peace and Justice Committee of the western Province, USA, Vincentians, I am pleased to offer my support to the bishops and to protecting LGBT youth. May God bless them and all of us to live in unity and harmony.
So important to support our LGBTQ community and the Bishops that are speaking out against any bullying and discrimination against them.
Yes, we join you in support of the LGBTQ folks. God bless and protect them.
Thank you Bishops for accepting all people.
This is so important. We need Church leaders to speak louder than the years of casting shame on people. Thank you for spreading love and understanding.
Your willingness to speak with the heart and compassion of Jesus, provides great hope. - Signed a bi-gender lay person who God has called to full time ministry in the church for many years. Thank you
Thank you bishops.
Thank you for signing this important statement. Your support is especially important as a small corrective to the role many bishops have played in covering up sexual abuse by priests.
Thank you for signing.
Thank you for signing.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this welcoming step. Too often our church plays judge and jury rather than shepherd. This is a beautiful, pastoral act.
My gratitude to the Bishops who have signed this as well as for all the marginalized peoples of the world. We are all equal and loved by God.
Thank you for the courage to stand up for our LGBTQ persons in our society and church. The Church should be in the forefront on being against discrimination.
Thank you Bishop Anthony B Taylor for affirming your love and support of our LGBTQ sisters and brothers.
Every human life is equally valuable in God’s eyes. Thank you for acknowledging this simple truth publicly.
This is what it means to be witnesses of Jesus' inclusive, merciful love. Truly our LGBTQ siblings are "wonderfully made" by God (Psalm 139:14).
Thank you for your leadership in reminding the people of God that we are all obligated to show love to ALL people.
Thank you, Bishops, for your public statement in support of LGBTQ+ persons.
Thank you for your commitment to the Living Word of God and for witnessing to a truth profoundly needed in the world today.
Thank you Bishop McElroy and Bishop Dolan and the other Bishops who stand with our LGBT youth; you make us proud and give us hope...
Thank you Bishop Steven! I am
In gratitude for your courage and following God’s command to love one another.
Diane Palmer
Thank you for your pastoral care in showing the love and acceptance that Jesus called us to follow. Peace
Thank you
Thank you for restoring my faith in the Church by embodying the message of care, love and compassion brought by Jesus. You are courageous leaders fighting for the marginalised just as Jesus did. God bless you and all our brothers & sisters of the LGBTQ community.
Thank all of you who have signed to be public witnesses to the Word.
It really needn't be this difficult. Heartfelt thanks!
Love Thy Neighbor
I am grateful to the bishops for speaking out and walking the walk. As Jesus has asked of us.
Thank you for your courage and setting an example of how to be your brother's keeper. God bless you.
Specially today! Thanks for being an example that there is hope in the Church
Thank you for signing your support.
Thank you.
Thank you !
Thank you.
It is so disappointing that support for this is not universal. The Catholic Church continues its long and dreadful history of not following the teachings of Jesus.
I’m an MD PhD a Catholic and a Spiritual Director. Thank you for supporting Gods people.
It is good to see acceptance to those the Church has turned their head away from for so long. It was a long time coming, but progress is being made. The LGBTQ+ is now being loved as Jesus wanted them to be.
I'm very proud to be a part of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and to know that Archbishop Wester has signed this initiative.
[At last they are speaking up.
Thank you for supporting our GLBTQ community!
Gracias por su apoyo a los jóvenes de LGBT.
Thank you, Bishops, for your brave and compassionate leadership. You are truly men of God.
All actions have consequences and the realized consequences more often than not reveal the true intent of the actions. I laud these Bishops' actions as the intent is truly consequential to our Faith.
Thank you for your courage and
pastoral care.
Thank you, bishops and everyone one else who has signed in support of the bishops for publicly expressing your support of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. God created them and loves them and would want us all to do the same.
Thank you for this step.
Thank you for being such wonderful faith leaders. You give us hope in our Church!
Thanks for your witness to the Gospel.
Thank you so much for reaching out in love to the LGBTQ community in love. It is much appreciated.
Thank you for speaking up. It takes courage to do so. Now a statement/stand for ALL LGBT humans. Again, thank you.
Thank you for stepping forward. Blessings to you.
With gratitude for your response to our brothers and sisters
Thank you. May your courage and compassion spread among your fellow bishops. We so need to have this kind of leadership.
I am so grateful that you are able to see the value in every single human that has been created by our loving God. Jesus was never exclusive and neither should we be.
Thank you
Blessings on your courage to stand up for ALL God’s people.
Thank you for having the courage to speak up for the dignity of all people and especially for our LGBTQ+ persons.
May we all work to change unjust laws. In gratitude.
Thank you for your courage.
Thank you, Bishops, Men & Women Religious, and all people of good will for supporting and protecting our LGBT youth, who are made in the image and likeness of God and deserving of our respect, compassion, and sensitivity.
Thank you to the Bishops that have signed the statement. I hope many more Bishops sign.
Dear Bishops, You are doing just what Our Lord would do..and I know how much courage that takes. Our hearts are with you and we are grateful beyond telling for your living out the Gospel call.
My gratitude.
It is a pleasure to support this initiative. His love is universal, we need to act accordingly.
Thank you
RC priest of the diocese Haarlem-Amsterdam
Thanks for your brave testimony. I hope the world Church will follow soon, especially the bishop of Rome, whom I admire greatly.
I am so glad with this initiative!
I stand with and applaude these Bishops and institutions supporting our LGBTQ+ friends.
I do hope they are also taking action against the heinous letter circulated by the USCCB regarding the Equality Act.
In these days of demonstrations of bigotry and hurtfullness, it is good to see displays of Jesus' message of compassion and acceptance.
Tyler Clementi Foundation, God bless you and thank you for being a sign of God's loving, merciful presence in our world. Episcopal Dozen, thank you too!
Dominican Sisters of Peace support the Bishops for protecting LGBT Youth. Each life is precious and to be honored.
Jesus’ call to love.
with heartfelt gratitude to God and his servants in Lexington, KY
Wonderful news!
Thanks for the support -
🌈✌️
Thank you for knowing the right thing to do. Gratefully, Joellen McCarthy, BVM
We are all beloved of God.
Many thanks, Bishops, for your Gospel witness with this statement.
Thank you for your courage and clarity in proclaiming the love and mercy of Jesus Christ toward all those who are marginalized including the entire LGBTQ community. As a Catholic I do believe that homosexual activity is wrong, however having three siblings who are homosexuals, I also believe in unconditional love for anyone in the LGBT community. They are all loved by Jesus!
CJ's Mom
Thank you for your leadership - an act of Gospel love and inclusion that will be contagious.
Thanks for your support. Please keep it coming. Young people need not suffer from their church any more. Convince your fellow bishops too. Please stay with this new recognition and support.
Thank you, Bishops, for your open hearts. I pray the Spirit may break open those of your fellow American bishops to the Christ-like actions and words of Pope Francis for the vulnerable.
Thank you for standing up for Gospel values - and for loving others as God loves us.
Thanks for your support of LGBTQ+ youth.
So many of my LGBTQ students believe the Church hates and rejects them. So many of my ally students conclude that a Church which arbitrarily turns its back on so many is neither loving nor Godly. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for beginning to make a place for these heartbroken Catholic young people.
Would ask Archbishop Gomez, the President of the US Bishops Conference to sign this Christlike statement of support imitating our Holy Father!
All of God's children are Beloved and must be respected, loved and supported.
Thank you to these bishops. I believe it is something Pope Francis would have us all do.
Bishops,
Your courage and charity give me hope. Thank you.
It means a lot that there are voices within the institutional structure of the Church who understand the Church's fundamental recognition of the dignity of all people, especially those of us that are gay.
Thank you for helping us stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who deserve our loving respect.
I work with friends in our local Dignity/Integrity community; they often inspire me in their faith.
This statement is a concrete sign towards stepping in the tradition of the Hebrew prophets and the prophetic call of the gospel of Jesus. The struggle remains for the long-haul.
Thank you for doing was is right and just for our children all who are LGBTQ
Thank you to the Bishops and all those who have signed this
public statement of support for the LGBTQI+ youth and greater community. I pray it is a spark that ignites further self reflection, dialogue and positive action.
Thank you for recognizing these valuable members of our country/world! Blessings on each of them.
Thank you for stepping up. Maybe you can influence your fellow bishops like the ones in Detroit. You give me hope.
What an incredibly powerful move in the right and, dare I say it, Christian direction.
The leadership demonstrated by these bishops and religious orders, the courage to continue doing what is right and just, and their commitment to serving and supporting the marginalized in their communities is forever going to change each and every one of their ministries for the better.
It really was one of those profound moments when thinking “this will never happen” turned into a “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Thank you for your courage, compassion, and commitment to all things good.
The journey may be a long one, but at least we‘re walking.
I am sorry for the grief our institutional church has caused to the LGBTQ community.
I unequivocally support the call to affirm, support and love all LGBTQ persons, especially youth.
I unequivocally support the call to affirm, support and love all LGBTQ persons, especially youth.
I am grateful for my brothers and sisters who have the courage to stand up for equality and justice for the LGBTQ community. Thank you to the bishops who also have the courage to stand up for Gospel values. So sad that there are so few.
Your witness to the message of love our Church should be sending is loud and clear. Thank you !!
With deep gratitude for your Gospel courage and your Gospel love. May we all be one.
Thank you so much!!!
Thank you for being Christian!
As part of the LGBTQ+ community and a transgender Catholic, thank you for your leadership and willingness to speak out. We are ALL children of God.
Thank you!
Thank you to the bishops who have signed the document.
Thank you for this loving statement!
Thank you so much dear brothers and sisters. Big hug.
Dear Bishops and Co-signers,
I hear in your voice the call of Jesus: "Come to me all you who are weary and overburdened and I will give you rest...Learn of me ... I came to serve and not to be served". Lifting burdens instead of adding more is what Christ calls us to. "My yoke is easy and my burden light" when you allow me to share it with you and you with me. THANK YOU!!
God doesn't make mistakes in Her creation
I pray that our Cardinal Archbishop will follow your example. Thank you for leading the way.
Thank you
Thank you for your care and support of these young people! What would Jesus do? Just what you have done!
Blessings
Thank you for your support of the LGBT Youth.
Thank you for preaching the gospel by your action of supporting persecuted youth.
Thank you for preaching the gospel by your action of supporting persecuted youth.
Thank you to the bishops and the religious congregations!
Thank you for recognizing our LGBT+ sisters and brothers
Thank you for following in Jesus' footsteps and having the courage to stand up in spite of the current culture in power. May you be blessed in your continued ministry as HE modeled.
Thank you for your leadership in promoting "respect, compassion and sensitivity" for our LGBT Youth!
Much gratitude to those bishops who have had the courage and fortitude to recognize God's overwhelming love for our LGBT youth. I pray that all bishops will soon follow.
Thanks be to all who recognize that we are all God's beloved ones.
Thank you to the bishops who signed. We have much more loving, thinking and learning to do.
Thank you for promoting acceptance and love for LGBT youth. This should be extended to adults, also.
I am so grateful for your leadership in standing up for our LGBT youth. I pray all our Bishops will soon follow suit and that all of you will come to acknowledge that LGBT persons have the right to claim and express their God-given sexuality.
I thank those Bishops who have done what Jesus would do! We need to show respect for ALL of God's children. Thanks for your courage. May other Bishops also sign.
Gratitude and hope.
Thank you for your witness to the Gospel of Jesus, to love and respect ALL!
Thank you for your courageous leadership and compassion .
We are grateful and support you for this statement.
I herewith add my name to the petition to Bishop Tylka asking him to join the minority of US bishops
in union with Rome which supports the proactive and pastoral attitude towards LGBT youth, as stipulated
by the principles of the Vatican II Council, and vigorously promulgated by our current pope.
Thank you!
My respect for your statement. Kindness matters.
I am an openly gay woman who is an associate with the Sisters of St. Joseph, and I am active in my Catholic Parish of Blessed Trinity in Cleveland, Ohio. Thank you for your support of LGBT youth.
Thank you for issuing this statement supporting our LGBTQ youth.
Thank you for your leadership.
How can I say that I am a Child of God and neglect any other Child of God my brother or sister. Thank each of you for living your profession of faith.🎵
Grateful for this witness of compassion, support and justice.
Blessings!
Margaret
Thank you for standing with Jesus, who embraced all.
Thank you, Bishops.
Thankful to see & to know that the Catholic Church in USA can express the love of Christ for all of Providence children. Now the hard part comes through the actions on the local levels of the church from the Bishop, the Pastors & the parishes! Actions will always speak louder than words.
Thank you for what you are doing for the children.
God bless you, Sister Ellen
Thank you for your public support of LGBTQ youth!
This is such an encouraging way to begin this season of Lenten renewal and transformation!
Thank you for your initiative. Blessings and Peace,
JPICC Sisters of Saint Francis of Colorado Springs
Thank you for your welcoming stance. Our LGBTQ sisters and brothers need your love and support.
Dear Bishops,
Thank you. Whatever happened t the teachings of Vatican II (GS 1) and the ongoing teachings of our popes on our love for all people?
Thank You for honoring the goodness of each individual created in the image and likeness of God.
Thank you for reminding us all of the dignity and value of each person whom God has created.
As a psychotherapist and a Catholic I understand the bullying , humiliation, shame, and increased suicide rates that destroy the lives of our young people. Our young cannot survive this shamed isolation. Thank you to the gutsy and prophetic Bishops who stand in the wilderness with our LBGT youth.
Thank you for adding your name to this letter of support - it is incredibly meaningful to see as an LGBTQ Catholic. I hope you will continue this line of advocacy among your colleagues and parishioners.
Thank you for your commitment in sharing love to all of God’s children. E are all made in his image and likeness
Thank you, and God Bless you all!
Thank you for your support of our gay, trans and bisexual brothers and sisters! Your voices, raised in support are so important!
Thank you, dear Bishops, for making a public statement that supports the message of Jesus. Yes, we are all God's children.
Blessings, and much gratitude for your support!
Thank you, Bishops, for choosing the Gospel as your pastoral staff of compassion and welcome for ALL of God's dear children, our sisters and brothers. The peace of Christ!
I have "fallen" away from the church for many ideological reasons. As a white, middle-class, heterosexual, married woman, I try so very hard to be inclusive of ALL. I hope this movement can inspire the changes that will help those of us who left feel like it is inclusive enough to come back.
I am a counselor in a Catholic high school. I would like to thank these Bishops for supporting the care of our LGBTQ+ students. May this conversation grow into official programs and platforms that address the needs of LGBTQ+ students in our Catholic schools.
As a teacher at a Catholic school, I am grateful for your efforts to be supportive of LGBTQ youth.
I was that youth many years ago...the Catholic Church was a safe place for me, luckily. This message would have solidified that safety for me...and so many other young people. This means a lot...very positive step. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Thank you for supporting LGBTQ youth. May this be a first step toward love and understanding.
Dear brave bishops and spunky sisters, thank you for your courage to stand up and spread the Good News as Christ did. We sing “All are Welcome” but do we really mean it? Your stance indicates that you do. Leaders like you give me hope for the future of the Catholic Church.
Thank you and thank you to all who are bringing awareness to the message like Father Jim.
As the father of two LGBTQ+ children, I welcome the witness of these bishops to the truth, that my children and all of our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters, are part of God's beloved family!
Thank you for making the statement. Living in a church and a society that prefers that people like me not exist is a kind of trauma. It can resurface throughout a lifetime.
Thank you. We are all God’s children. Peace and hope to all.
God love you. Please know that we do, as well. Thank you for standing and supporting and praying for this action.
Thank you for taking this stand, which is bold but in reality should not be such. God bless you.
Thank you to these leaders . I hope more leaders will voice their courage. The Church should stand for Love.