National study assesses Catholic gay-lesbian ministries

Published: 2004-09-09

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholics who lead gay and lesbian ministry in their parishes rate days of recollection for gay and lesbian parishioners as one of the most effective programs they offer, said a national study released Sept. 9. Leaders also tended to rank their programs of social services and gay and lesbian support groups as excellent. Some leaders of diocesan or parish gay and lesbian ministry said their very existence as an officially recognized Catholic ministry was a major accomplishment. Among those in parish ministry, most described their pastor as very supportive but many said relationships with the diocese posed a significant challenge. The study was conducted by the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries with assistance from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, an independent Catholic research agency based at Georgetown University in Washington. CARA wrote the 124-page report on the study and an eight-page summation of its findings.

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