The cardinal held Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church as part of the Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach ministry’s 35th anniversary.

By Heather Schlitz, Block Club Chicago, June 19, 2023

LAKEVIEW — Blocks away from the thumping bass, fishnet bodysuits and drag queens of Boystown’s Pride Fest, some gay Chicagoans celebrated queer identity in a different way Sunday: with an LGBTQ+ Catholic mass led by Cardinal Blase Cupich.

As the bells rang at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and the first notes of the organ swelled, gay and lesbian churchgoers held hands, wore rainbow colors and sang hymns so loudly that they drowned out about 20 anti-LGBTQ+ protesters chanting outside the church doors at 708 W. Belmont Ave.

The Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach ministry has hosted weekly LGBTQ+ masses for decades. Cupich, one of the most important Catholic leaders in the U.S., presided over the group’s Sunday Mass, its 35th anniversary.

“God has brought us together here as a community. That’s why this community is so important. It’s a reflection of God and of the desire of God to have his people come together and support each other,” Cupich said.

“There’s something freeing about going to a Mass with other gay and lesbian people. I can bring my whole self before God,” said Ed, a former Catholic priest who asked to be identified only by his first name. “For the cardinal to be here for this special event, it means a lot to the community.”

Cupich didn’t use the words “gay” or “LGBTQ” during his 10-minute homily as he delivered a message of unity among Christians and the LGBTQ+ community.

“Throughout the gospels, Jesus sees individuals whose time hasn’t come yet. But maybe in a moment of grace, they see how much they’re loved by God,” Cupich said.

For some, the Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach ministry’s weekly queer Mass is a safe space after enduring years of repression from the church.

But for others, friendly masses and a homily from the cardinal do little to elevate LGBTQ+ people beyond second-class citizens in the church, they said.

“He [Cupich] can say Mass wherever he wants,” said Mary Donnelly, a lesbian Catholic and member of Dignity, an affirming Catholic ministry who did not attend Sunday’s service. “I’m indifferent because I don’t agree with the teachings of the church. I don’t agree with separating out the LGBTQIA population.”

Official church teachings prohibit same-sex couples from marrying and bar gay men from becoming priests.

Across the country, Catholic churches and schools have fired gay teachers and chaplains, prevented gay people from receiving communion and thrown barbs at LGBTQ+ people from the pulpit.

“We are accepted, but only to a point. Even welcoming churches are only welcoming to a point,” Donnelly said. “There should be total inclusion of us in the church.”

A statement released by Cupich’s office before the Mass said AGLO Chicago has “made much progress in bringing the Good News of Jesus to Catholics and creating a welcoming faith community for our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters.”

“We live in a time when stigmatizing or excluding groups of people has become too common and even normalized. As Catholics, we believe everyone is created in the likeness and image of God and should be respected and treated with kindness and gentleness,” the statement said.

Outside the church, protesters prayed the rosary and called for gay people to convert to heterosexuality and for the Catholic Church to stop giving LGBTQ+ people communion.

“You can’t be holy and sinful at the same time,” protester Chris Dunlap said.

Inside, hymns and prayers enveloped the cathedral, buoyed by what seemed like every voice in the congregation joining together to sing.

The service was “wonderful and moving,” said churchgoer and Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach member Raquel Walsh.

“You could hear the strength of every song and prayer,” Ed said. “It was overwhelming.”

This articlew first appeared HERE.