Particle.news

Vatican Report Publishes Gay Catholics’ Testimonies, Cites Harm From Conversion Therapy

The study‑group text urges a listening‑based pastoral approach without changing Church teaching.

Overview

  • Study Group No. 9 of the Synod on Synodality, which released its report Tuesday, included first‑person accounts from two married gay Catholics.
  • The text describes the “devastating” spiritual and psychological effects of conversion or reparative therapies and says Church advice like marrying a woman left people more isolated.
  • One witness recounts involvement with Courage, a chastity ministry the report labels problematic, and both men say supportive Catholic communities helped them stay in the faith.
  • The document keeps doctrine in place and recommends resolving the standoff between moral rules and pastoral welcome through listening and input from fields such as psychology.
  • LGBTQ Catholic leaders praised the first‑person accounts as a first for a Vatican study document, while LifeSite and Bishop Joseph Strickland condemned the report, and the Daily Caller raised unconfirmed questions about ties between Fr. James Martin and one witness.