More Than a Monologue set for fall

In an unprecedented collaboration, two Catholic universities – Fairfield and Fordham universi­ties – are joining two non-denominational divinity schools – Union Theological Seminary and Yale Divinity School – in a program series developed to change the conversation about sexual diversity and the Catholic Church. The series is entitled More Than a Monologue: Sexual Diversity and the Catholic Church.

The programs will be held this fall, and will explore the diversity of viewpoints among Catholics on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. Each event has a unique focus and the series as a whole will lift up new voices that are rarely heard and raise awareness about the impact of church teachings and public stances on the lives of LGBT people. Participants and audiences will include clergy and laypeople, scholars and activists, faculty and students, Catholic, post-Catholic, and non-Catholic thought leaders. The long-term goal of this unusual initiative is to encourage a vigor­ous, honest, and open debate about sexual diversity within and outside the Catholic Church.

“The conversation on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues in the Roman Catholic Church has for too long been only a monologue — the sole voice being heard is that of the institutional Catholic Church,” said Dr. Paul Lakeland, Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Professor of Catholic Studies, direc­tor of the Center for Catholic Studies, and an orga­nizer of the series. “That’s why many Americans believe, incorrectly, that all Catholics are opposed to equal rights for LGBT people. It’s time for a 21st century conversation on sexual diversity, with new and different voices heard from.”

The series is being funded by a grant from the Arcus Foundation, a leading global foundation advancing pressing social justice and conservation issues.

The series is free and open to the pub­lic. The dates, titles, and locations of the four events are:

• Learning to Listen: Voices of Sexual Diversity and the Catholic Church Fordham University, Lincoln Center Campus, New York, N.Y. — Friday, September 16

• Pro-Queer Life: Youth Suicide Crisis, Catholic Education, and the Souls of LGBTQ People, Union Theological Seminary, New York, N.Y. — Saturday, October 1

• Same-Sex Marriage and the Catholic Church: Voices from Law, Religion, and the Pews Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT — Saturday, October 22

• The Care of Souls: Sexual Diversity, Celibacy, and Ministry Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT — Saturday, October 29

Each event will feature major speakers on the specific topics as well as panels and participant discussion. Commenting on the Fairfield event, Dr. Lakeland said, “The Catholic Church has large numbers of LGBT laity engaged in pastoral work in the Church and many gay clergy. But the official stance of the Church makes their status as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender problematic for indi­viduals, their communities, and the Church. This creates conflicts and tensions for many, while hid­ing the fact that all Christians contribute to Church life because of, not despite, who they are. At the Fairfield event we will be examining the challenges of the baptismal call to ministry in the lives of LGBT Catholics and looking at how a more positive and fruitful situation can be created.”

For more information, visit the website, http://www.morethanamonologue.org.