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The following publications are excellent resources for anyone seeking to minister compassionately with lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender Catholics and their families.
Developed and written by Mary Ellen and Casey Lopata, the Fortunate Families Newsletter, and the books Fortunate Families, Seeds of Hope and More Seeds, reflect their 13 years experience in this ministry.
Though designed for use by Catholics, these books are relevant and useful to other Christian ministries with gay and lesbian people and their families.
 Fortunate Families addresses the experience of Catholic parents who love their gay sons and lesbian daughters. The book had its genesis in a descriptive survey of over 200 such parents. It integrates results from the survey, church documents and stories so readers can access what they need most. Some readers will search for accurate information about Catholic teaching; others may connect with the lived experience of other Catholic parents. Still others will find examples of ministerial advocacy and support within the Catholic Church. Fortunate Families has all this and more.
Conventional wisdom emphasizes the stories of parents who react to the news that their child is gay in verbally or physically abusive ways. These stories are told so often they take on an aura of normalcy. But there are other stories—of parents who struggle against the pressures of society and church to find and believe in the goodness of their gay child.
It is critically important for parents to hear the stories of others who walked the same road before them—who have come through the experience closer to their gay or lesbian child, and who are willing to work to make the church more welcoming.
Equally important is the opportunity for pastoral ministers to hear the voices of these parents and understand the need for outreach and pastoral care for gay and lesbian Catholics and their families.
Fortunate Families will help prepare pastoral ministers to help families come out of their isolation, work through their confusion and pain, and celebrate how fortunate they actually are.
NOTE: With any purchase you will receive the Fortunate Families Newsletter.
Order your copy now for only $18.00 (plus shipping and handling)
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Seeds of Hope: Compassionate Ministry with Gay & Lesbian Catholics and their Families ~~A Practical Resource Manual
 Seeds of Hope is for anyone who wants to minister compassionately with gay and lesbian Catholics and their families and friends, and indeed, with the whole faith community as they encounter this sensitive and challenging topic. It was developed to provide the means for church ministers to help Catholics study and reflect on Church teaching, scripture, the social and physical sciences and the lived experience of gay and lesbian Catholics and their families. This manual will put appropriate resources at the fingertips of compassionate ministers when they need them.
What's in Seeds of Hope?
Seeds of Hope includes information and official church documents. As an educational resource, it includes commentary that helps interpret these documents, especially as they relate to pastoral care. Some commentary and experiential offerings may differ with official church teaching. It is included in the spirit of educational discourse, to be aware of the tensions present in this ministry, and to stay current with the ongoing development of pastoral practice and doctrine. One section is devoted to the lived experience of lesbian and gay people and their families. Only by listening can we understand their pastoral care needs.
Why & When is Seeds of Hope Needed?
1. When a newly aware, confused parent comes to us, we should have Always Our Children.
2. When a young man or woman, struggling with sexual identity concerns, comes to us, we should have "Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality" and "The struggle with sexual identity."
3. When a parent asks about what to tell their kids about their gay uncle, we should have "What do we tell our kids about gay and lesbian people?"
4. When staff members suggest starting a formal gay and lesbian ministry, "Building a Parish Ministry to Gay and Lesbian Catholics" and various models of such ministries.
*NOTE: Resources were gathered, assessed and organized. After obtaining appropriate permissions Seeds of Hope & More Seeds were produced. The resource manual is a 3-ring binder, so you can add new or relevant local materials. Most of the resources come with permission for you to copy them for ministry work.
Order your copy now for only $50.00 (plus shipping and handling)
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Seeds of Hope and More Seeds of Hope Set for $75.00
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Seeds of Hope Table of Contents >
More Seeds of Hope is designed for pastoral ministers who want to respond with knowledge and compassion when ministering with lesbian and gay Catholics, their families and friends and indeed with the whole faith community.
More Seeds offers a variety of resources so compassionate ministers are more likely to have what they need, when they need it. All to help them build up the Body of Christ by recognizing and affirming the gifts of gay and lesbian Catholics. As the U.S bishops note in Always Our Children, "In you (our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters), God's love revealed."
What's in More Seeds?
Over 175 pages of factual information & official church documents including:
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Bishop Thomas Gumbleton calling for a pastoral strategy of listening
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Suggestions for active listening from Linda McCullough
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American Academy of Pediatricians statements on same-sex adoption
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Luke Timothy Johnson on scripture
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John T. Noonan on the development of doctrine
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Richard P. McBrien on conscience
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Insights from Bishop Raymond Lucker
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Joseph Selling on the development of Catholic tradition & sexual morality
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Reflections on being a gay student in a Jesuit high school by William Glenn
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NCCB/USCC committeesÍ statement on same-sex marriage
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Responding to the gay agenda per Eileen Flynn
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Gerald Coleman on coming out as a Catholic school teacher, with responses by Bishop Gumbleton, Evelyn & James Whitehead and others
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Sidney Callahan on gay marriage
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Supplemental related reading list
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Updated diocesan and parish ministry lists
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And more!
More on More Seeds
Like its predecessor, Seeds of Hope,
More Seeds is in a 3-ring binder, so you can add new or relevant local materials. Most of the resources come with permission for you to copy for your ministry work.
Order your copy now for only $30.00 (plus shipping and handling)
Order
Seeds of Hope and More Seeds of Hope Set for $75.00
View
More Seeds of Hope Table of Contents >
Order Seeds of Hope and More Seeds of Hope Set for $75.00
SHIPPING RATES:
For each Seeds of Hope, $7.00; 2 or more, $6.00 each
For each More Seeds of Hope: $5.00; 2 or more, $4.00 each
For each Fortunate Families Book: $3.00; 2 or more $2.00 each
If you purchase Seeds of Hope and More Seeds of Hope together
shipping is $10.00
If you purchase Fortunate Families along with Seeds of Hope and
More Seeds of Hope, shipping is $12.00
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