Articles & Brochures

Listed below are brochures and articles you may find helpful whether you are an LGBT person, a parent or relative of an LGBT person, someone who ministers with LGBT persons and/or their families, or someone who wants to know more about their LGBT friends, neighbors and co-workers.  Their being listed does not necessarily mean that Fortunate Families agrees with all the views presented in these documents.

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AUTHOR TITLE TOPIC NOTES Alison, James Letter of response to friends in the aftermath of the Vatican Instruction of 29 Nov 2005 Church teaching  Seminaries Dec 5, 2005.  English theologian.  This and other articles also available in Spanish and French on same link. Alison, James Various articles and talks. Includes Spanish, French, Italian and other language translations. Church teaching Various American Academy of Pediatrics Coparent or Second-Parent Adoption by Same-Sex Parents Social sciences PEDIATRICS Vol. 109 No. 2 Feb 2002, pp. 339-340 American Psychological Association Answers to Your Questions About Individuals With Intersex Conditions Social Sciences 2006 Brochure American Psychological Association Answers to Your Questions About Transgender Individuals and Gender Identity Social sciences 2006 brochure American Psychological Association Answers to Your Questions For a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation. Social sciences 2008 American Psychological Association Bisexuality not a transitional phase among women, according to research Social Sciences Bisexuality January 15, 2008 Press Release American Psychological Association Lesbian & Gay Parenting Social sciences 2005 Study Congregation for Catholic Education Concerning the Criteria of Vocational Discernment Regarding Persons with Homosexual Tendencies In View Of Their Admission To Seminaries and Holy Orders Church teaching  Seminaries Instruction from the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education AND Statement on the Recent Instruction from the Congregation for Catholic Education, Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Family Acceptance Project Supportive Families, Healthy Children Social sciences Informative report on Dr. Caitlin Ryan’s study of family rejection on the well-being of gay and transgender youth. Lists both negative and positive parental behaviors that can either put a child at greater risk – or improve her/his self-esteem. Fortunate Families A Pastoral Approach Toward Catholics In Same-Sex Relationships Church teaching Fortunate Families, Jun 2005.  Companion document to “Alternative Catholic Approach to Same-Sex Union Legislation" Fortunate Families Alternative Catholic Approach to Same-Sex Union Legislation Church teaching Fortunate Families, Jan 2005.  Companion document to “A Pastoral Approach Toward Catholics In Same-Sex Relationships” Fortunate Families Closet Catholic Teachings Church Teaching Useful teachings that often seem to be conveniently neglected and/or hidden when the institutional church addresses homosexuality. Sept. 2008. Fortunate Families Conscience: Some Relevant Quotes Church teaching - Conscience Primacy of Conscience is one of Catholic teaching's best kept secrets.  Here are some quotes to help get this teaching out of the closet. Fortunate Families Summary of Family Rejection Study by Caitlin Ryan Social Sciences This study, presented in the January, 2009 issues of "Pediatrics," "establishes a clear link between specific parental and caregiver rejecting behaviors and negative health problems in young lesbian, gay and bisexual adults." Fortunate Families What Do We Tell Our Kids about Gay and Lesbian People? Church teaching Fortunate Families, Jun 2005 Fortunate Families newsletter readers 2006 U.S. Bishops’ Document: “Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care” – Feedback (Excerpts) from Fortunate Families newsletter readers. Church teaching Compiled by Casey Lopata. Included in Fortunate Families November 2006 newsletter. Fowler, Dr. Sidney F. Out In Season: A Transgender Encounter with the Church Year Pastoral Care Transgender Exploration, with transgender sisters and bothers, of the journey from the longings of Advent, the joy of Christmas and the depths of Lent to the good news of Easter hope. Fox, Tom (NCR) Family Life: Fortunate Families Pastoral care November 28, 2008 National Catholic Reporter (NCR) article about Fortunate Families. Ganley, Rosemary Canadian ministry to parents of homosexual children Pastoral care Catholic New Times (Toronto, Ont.), Sep 12, 2004 Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators & School Personnel Social sciences A collaborative brochure developed and endorsed by ten education, health, mental health, and religious organizations Glaser, Rev. Chris Gender Identity and Our Faith Communities: A Congregational Guide for Transgender Advocacy Pastoral Care Transgender Curriculum to empower people of faith to transform their communities into welcoming environments. Based on the contributions of transgender people, their families and clergy. Howes, Hilary To Be or Not to Be: A Catholic Transsexual Speaks Pastoral Care Transgender First appeared in Conscience, Vol. XXXI - No. 2, 2 2010. HRC / NGLTF / UNID@S A La Familia Social sciences Lationo/a Bilingual guide on sexual orientation, gender identity and the Bible for Latino/a families and churches. Guía bilingüe dirigida a familias e iglesias latinas para educar sobre la orientación sexual, la identidad de género y la Biblia. Jones, Robert P. and Daniel Cox Catholic Attitudes on Gay and Lesbian Issues: A Comprehensive Portrait from Recent Research Social Sciences March 2011 Public Religion Research Institute report. The most comprehensive national portrait to date of Catholic attitudes on gay and lesbian issues. Kehoe, Tom Guidelines for persons of faith in the GLBT community and their relatives and friends Pastoral care Apr 2007 LaSala,Michael C., Ph.D., LCSW African American Gay Youth and Their Parents: Coping with Double Stigma Social Sciences From Psychology Today, Oct. 21, 2010 blog. Rutgers U. prof says parents of black gay and lesbian youth know their children face a double stigma: race and sexual orientation. Black families hope their sons and daughters can surmount the mountainous obstacles society lays before them, made steeper by being gay. Lopata, Casey Can My Son Be Gay and Catholic? Church teaching Open Hands, Fall 1998 Lopata, Casey Taking "Always Our Children" Seriously Pastoral Care Suggests three principles, drawn from Always Our Children, that parishes can use to assure a welcoming environment for LGBT persons and their loved ones. Updated Aug. 2011. Lopata, Casey & Mary Ellen Bad Faith: The Catholic Hierarchy's Pointless Campaign Against LGBT Rights Pastoral Care Posted on Religion Dispatches (religiondispatches.org), August 3, 2011. Lopata, Casey & Mary Ellen Reaching Out to Families with LGBT Members Pastoral ministry Jan. 4, 2012 guest blog on New Ways Ministry's Bondings 2.0. Lopata, J.A. Catholic parents as ‘secret weapons’: A gay son talks to his Catholic parents about grassroots support, challenges from church hierarchy, and their new book ‘Fortunate Families’ Pastoral care Innewsweekly: New England's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender newspaper. Jul 2004 Lopata, Mary Ellen & Casey 2006 U.S. Bishops’ Document: “Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care” – Message to Fortunate Families Readers. Church teaching Sent to Fortunate Families email subscribers and then included in Fortunate Families November 2006 newsletter. Lopata, Mary Ellen God’s Love Revealed: Reflections on being a Catholic mother Experience Homosexuality and the Catholic High School, Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board, Sep 2001 Lopata, Mary Ellen Still your son, daughter Pastoral care Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Mar 18, 1996 Lopata, Mary Ellen and Casey Fortunate Families Can Change the World! Pastoral care The Empty Closet, A Publication of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley (Rochester, NY), Acting On Faith column organized by Interfaith Advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People, Dec 2004/Jan 2005] Lopata, Mary Ellen and Casey When A Child Says, ‘I’m Gay.’ Pastoral care The Journal of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers, Volume 15, Issue 4, Winter 1998, p. 3 Lynch, Fr. Bernard Response to the "Instruction" from Father Bernard Lynch Church teaching  Seminaries An openly gay Roman Catholic priest in London McElwee, Joshua J. & Zoe Ryan (NCR) Bishops condemn NY marriage law, other Catholics celebrate Human rights July 5, 2011. National Catholic Reporter National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian & Gay Ministries 2006 U.S. Bishops’ Document: “Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care” – Statement in Response. Church teaching Issued November 22, 2006. Included in Fortunate Families November 2006 newsletter. National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian & Gay Ministries NACDLGM Statement to the Vatican document "Concerning the Criteria of Vocational Discernment Regarding Persons with Homosexual Tendencies In View Of Their Admission To Seminaries and Holy Orders" Church teaching  Seminaries Nov 29, 2005 Nelson, Tom God gave me a gay son Experience Notre Dame Magazine, Summer 2004, Vol. 33, No. 2, p. 34-38] Ontario (Canada) Catholic Family Life Educators Network Homosexuality and the Catholic High School Pastoral Ministry September 2001 compilation of newsletters with extensive new material. Included are reflections by Catholic teachers, psychologists, chaplains and parents of children in Catholic schools. Pickett, William Parent's Perspective: Transsexual Identity and Wholeness Experience  Transgender Fortunate Families, Jun 2005 Price, Deb Support grows for those who are gay and Catholic Experience Oct. 29, 2007.  Detroit News by syndicated columnist. Saunders, Kathy Mom, Dad, I'm Gay Pastoral care U.S. Catholic, August 2004 Szumiloski, Leonard J. Enfolding gay son elevates a family Experience Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY), Apr 16, 1998 Szumiloski, Leonard J. ‘Gay agenda’ is just human agenda Human rights Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY), Nov 6, 1998 Thomas, Fr. Gerard Response to the "Instruction" from Fr. Gerard Thomas Church teaching  Seminaries Pseudonym of a Catholic priest who is celibate and gay, and in active ministry in the U.S. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB] 2006 U.S. Bishops’ Document: Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care   Church teaching Developed by the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved for publication by the full body of bishops at its November 2006 General Meeting. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and Family Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children – AND – Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers Pastoral care 4th printing, Oct 2005 Walter Wink Homosexuality and the Bible Scripture Walter Wink is a United Methodist minister and Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City.