Newtown Parish invites Acceptance members and friends to a LGBTI Forum, held as part of the Parish Faithworks program.

This forum intends to provide a space for all interested - gay and straight; Catholic, all religions and none - to engage in a dialogue on inclusion of LGBTIQ voices in Catholic discourse, hearing from a panel of respected members of the community.

PANEL:

• Melody Gardiner (Community Organiser);
• Sue and Les Mico (PFLAG);
• Fr Roy O'Neill MSC (Parish priest)
• Ben Oh (Co-convenor of Rainbow Catholics)

The Interim Report at last year's Synod on the Family broke new ground when it said:

"Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community."Are we capable of providing for these people, guaranteeing them a place of fellowship in our communities? Oftentimes, they want to encounter a Church which offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of this, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation...?"(50).  

It's time to listen to LGBTIQ stories as fellowship gift and grace.

It's time to embrace all church members by virtue of baptismal dignity and equality inviting all to a true human flourishing.