LGBT Youth Receive Offer Of Help From Catholic Hospital, St. Peter's Healthcare

[DriftingCrow]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/27/lgbt-youth-catholic-church_n_3645946.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay%20Voices
Author: Katherine Bindley Source: Huffington Post

"Michael LaSala is an openly gay professor who specializes in LGBT issues and doesn't temper his words when it comes to his support of marriage rights for same-sex couples. That makes his newest ally in a project to counsel LGBT youths all the more surprising: It's a Catholic hospital. [. . .] The goal of New Brunswick Family Solutions, as it will be known, is to reduce the risk that young gay people in the community will be rejected by their families and end up out on their own. LaSala explained that the counselors will work with family members to help them move toward accepting their LGBT sons and daughters or brothers and sisters. At the same time, the staff will work with the youths individually to explore how they can integrate their sexuality with their religious beliefs. "

Some members of the LGBT community are concerned about Catholics helping LGBT people.

' Rak, the hospital's CEO, said that the counseling sessions won't be centered on proselytizing. "We see the person as a creation of God, as someone who is due dignity and respect," said Rak. "This is not a program that is geared toward going into the community and transforming people who may be leading that lifestyle." '

[Catalina]

I am almost not surprised... we have a Catholic hospital that is apparently gay friendly... simply because it has a gay evangelical church in the hospital on Sundays...

Which, I do find slightly strange, considering the current stance of the Roman Catholic Church, lol.

Apparently that same hospital in said post is also transphobic. *shrugs* I really have no clue!

[StellaB]

Not that surprising. There's quite a number of Catholics who've really embraced principles such as the Solidaris Rei Solicitudo teachings of Pope John Paul II who do great work with the poor, the marginalized and the disaffected.

I'm sure there's an even greater number of ordinary people with crosses on their wall who while not quite as proactive with charity and voluntary work share the same principles in their hearts.

[JoanneL]

No surprise. We have a Catholic church in Sydney which has a service for Gay and transgender people each Sunday. I am also a member of a group which help the homeless and needy.