Exclusive: Catholic Church will hold historic talk about LGBT issues — and the Vatican ‘proposed it’

For possibly the first time in history, LGBT+ issues will be on the agenda at an event organised by the Catholic Church. And the priest giving the talk, Father James Martin, says it was proposed by the Vatican.

This would mark a historic step by the Catholic Church to embrace the LGBT+ community.

Martin will give a presentation at the World Meeting of Families held in Dublin, Ireland, between August 21 and 26. The triennial conference will be attended by Pope Francis.

Martin’s speech, about welcoming LGBT+ people and their families into their parishes, will take place between August 21 and 24, according to the WMOF’s official programme. It will be held before Pope Francis’ visit on the final two days of the event.

The priest exclusively told PinkNews: “It was the Vatican who proposed what I think is a great topic: ‘Showing Welcome and Respect in our Parishes for LGBT People and their Families.’

“By proposing that topic, they’re telling LGBT Catholics something important: this is your church too.”

Nearly 10,000 people have called for the removal of the pro-LGBT+ priest from the event.

The petition was created by the Irish branch of ultra-conservative group Tradition Family Property (TFP), which opposes abortion and same-sex marriage.

The petition gained 9,792 signatures as of Wednesday morning.

The World Meeting of Families is a major event in the Roman Catholic calendar, and is attended by a number of senior figures from the Catholic Church. It focuses on the importance of marriage and family life.

(Fr. James Martin, SJ/YouTube)