What we’re about
OUTCatholics of Philadelphia seeks to organize and make visible LGBTQ Catholics and allies in the Philadelphia area. We support the spiritual and communal development of LGBT+ Catholics, while actively working to promote a more loving and inclusive Church through dialogue and direct action.
We will no longer remain silent. Our rejection and marginalization within the Church is denial of pastoral accompaniment, discernment, and integration. We oppose the despair and tragedies that result when the only voice to be heard in the Church falsely denies the great gift that every LGBT+ life represents. We actively counter that misguided message with our voice.
OUTCatholics seek to engage our parish communities. We will make our voices heard. We will engage Church leaders to heighten the awareness and urgency for building stronger bridges of understanding, love, and acceptance toward the LGBT+ community.
We meet monthly in Center City to engage and empower our community and to enable our plans for action. Since we seek to build a fellowship for dialogue and direct action within the local Catholic community, we are seeking members who reside within the Philadelphia area who are willing and able to actively participate in the group.
It has been said that the Church thinks in terms of centuries and moves even slower. Dogma does not change and doctrinal interpretations do not shift overnight. We are not delusional in our mission. While countless LGBT+ souls have left the Church, we are the many LGBT+ faithful who can no sooner abandon the Church than we can abandon God. We stay. We practice. We believe. Our faith despite the opposition is perhaps a sign of contradiction, but consider a King born in a manager was a sign of contradiction as well. "No one can be excluded from the mercy of God," Pope Francis has taught. OUTCatholics are here to ensure the Church recognizes this teachinig.
Bring your voice to this movement. Join us!