No, Acceptance Perth is a welcoming safe space for LGBTIQA+ Catholics, their family, and friends. We affirm everyone’s human dignity and their faith.
As a non-judgemental group, we are open to diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
We do not discriminate on age, gender, race, or other distinctions. All are welcome including partners.
You don’t need to be Catholic to attend our events. While we are a Catholic community, membership is open to anyone who wishes to be part of Acceptance Perth.
Our gatherings include both Catholics and Christians from other traditions who are seeking a space to connect with like-minded LGBTIQA+ Christians in a supportive atmosphere.
We also welcome those exploring the Catholic faith, as well as Catholics who may be returning to their practice and are looking for a safe, affirming environment. Above all, we are an inclusive community. There is no expectation or pressure to convert to Catholicism.
Acceptance Perth is an autonomous group of Catholics who gather for spiritual support, pastoral care and fellowship. We accept the gifts of all who join us and we do not judge or discriminate against anyone or encourage a person to change their sexuality or gender.
As Pope Francis said, “If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?”
He continued in his book, The Name of God is Mercy, “I was paraphrasing by heart the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized.”
Acceptance Perth actively seeks to embody the principles of the Catholic tradition of the dignity of the human person just as God made us and equality for all including gender and sexually diverse people.
We follow The Catechism of the Catholic Church where it states (# 2358): [Homosexual people] do not choose their homosexual condition… They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.
Many well-respected theologians and spiritual guides including priests, religious and lay people have spoken openly about the church needing to be more welcoming and open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, non-binary, and transgender people.
An example of this is Sr Ilia Delio who is a Franciscan Sister with doctoral degrees in both science and theology. She wrote in her book, Birth of a Dancing Star:
“A church grounded in the core reality of God’s love must be a church living from the centre of that love, which is why the church can survive into the future only if it opens wide its doors to all those it currently excludes: women, laity, gay, non-binary, transgendered, divorced, and remarried… Love does not fixate on doctrines and canon laws, but is “patient and kind,” as St. Paul wrote.”
Sources:
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-explains-who-am-i-judge
We hold a range of gatherings and events throughout the year including Mass, social events, and faith reflection nights. For details on upcoming events, visit our events page.
Not sure what to expect on your first visit? Click here for more info.
Many LGBTIQA+ Catholics have found parishes and faith communities where they are genuinely welcomed and included. Others have had deeply painful experiences — of homophobia, transphobia, ignorance, and discrimination in Church contexts – and some have left the Church as a result. Both realities are true, and both deserve to be named honestly.
LGBTIQA+ Catholics often encounter anti-gay and anti-trans language from other Christians or within their own families, causing lasting harm. At the same time, some within LGBTIQA+ communities question why anyone would want to belong to a Church that has caused so much harm – and that scepticism is understandable and deserves to be taken seriously. Church teaching on sex and sexuality must always be read alongside Church teaching on God’s love for all, human flourishing, relationships, and the primacy of conscience. Taken together, these teachings offer a much richer and more compassionate framework than is sometimes presented. For those who find meaning, identity, and spiritual home in both their faith and their LGBTIQA+ identity, that experience is real and valid – and they are not alone.
The Church’s teaching on conscience is clear and longstanding. Dignitatis Humanae (#3), from the Second Vatican Council, states that people “must not be forced to act contrary to their conscience. Nor must they be prevented from acting according to their conscience, especially in religious matters.”
Gaudium et Spes (#16) goes further: “Deep within their conscience a person discovers a law which they have not laid upon themselves but which they must obey… conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary. There they are alone with God whose voice echoes in their depths.” This teaching is found throughout Catholic tradition – in Thomas Aquinas, in Cardinal John Henry Newman, and reaffirmed by Pope Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Newman wrote that conscience is “a messenger from God… the aboriginal Vicar of Christ, a prophet in its information.”
He also famously wrote: “I shall drink to the Pope, if you please, still, to conscience first, and to the Pope afterwards.”
Pope Francis’s 2016 apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia includes a strong endorsement of the primacy of conscience (paragraph 303), and cautions against approaches to moral teaching that “see everything as black and white,” warning that these can “close off the way of grace and of growth, and discourage paths of sanctification which give glory to God” (paragraph 305).
It is Catholic teaching that one must follow their informed conscience – formed through prayer, study, and the careful application of Catholic teaching and gospel wisdom to specific and complex decisions. For LGBTIQA+ Catholics whose God-given identity is a gift to be celebrated, invoking the primacy of conscience to navigate the tensions between Church teaching on sexuality and their own experience of self, love, and relationship is not a departure from Catholic teaching. It is an expression of it. A wise and trusted pastoral guide can be a valuable companion in navigating this territory.
Acceptance Perth respects the conscience decisions of LGBTIQA+ Catholics as taught by the Church. Our community welcomes all gender and sexually diverse individuals, couples, and their children. We welcome families of LGBTIQA+ Catholics and others who wish to support, learn with, and celebrate with us. We welcome those who are discovering, questioning, or transitioning. And we welcome those finding their way back to the Church after time away – you are welcome to journey with us, without conditions or expectations.
As Pope Francis said: “Who am I to judge?”
Sources:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/conscience-takes-priority-over-church-teaching-says-catholic-catechism-1.3518377
https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/conscience-still-aboriginal-vicar-christ-now-adults
Change in the church is as difficult as change in society – it comes slowly based on new knowledge and new understandings about religion, the bible and science. New knowledge and understandings in the area of homosexuality and church teaching include all these. The idea of diverse sexual identities as we now experience and know it scientifically is very recent.
Still today there are many countries where being gay or engaging in gay relationships is illegal with penalties including incarceration and death. When church people interpret certain bible texts inaccurately it can lead to vilification of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Church teaching based on poor biblical interpretation and unscientific anthropology has led to interpretations of church teaching that have harmed, disadvantaged and justified discrimination against LGBTIQA+ people.
Where science, good theology and accurate biblical interpretation are respected, church teaching particularly in the area of morals, can be interpreted in an inclusive way. Just as other church moral teachings have been adjusted to meet current reality, such as the death penalty, war ethics and slavery, so has church teaching on homosexuality and gender diversity.
But it is new and emerging and, in some church statements, there is still some work to do. Those who find this emerging theology around gender and sexual diversity difficult can be caught in an undignified cultural war that demeans LGBTIQA+ people unjustifiably. Thus, at this time of change we have differing views. This is unfortunately at all levels of church life.
We encourage conversation and dialogue especially at the level of experience and pastoral practice. Often the view of those wedded to no change remains at an academic level. They are seemingly unconcerned about the clear church teaching that LGBTIQA+ people must be treated with “respect, compassion, and sensitivity” (Catholic Catechism 2358). They are unaware or unconcerned about the harm their view may do.
Views can change especially through meeting and sharing faith, ministry, and life with LGBTIQA+ people. Austrian Cardinal Christopher Schönborn, Editorial Secretary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church at one time, was opposed to a more liberal view until he was confronted with the fact that a gay man in a gay relationship was voted onto the parish council his diocese. The parish priest sacked him because of his relationship status. Cardinal Schönborn had a meal with this man and his partner and reinstated him to the parish council.
This pastoral approach is the one Pope Francis uses and recommends.
The Catholic Herald (UK) reported in 2015 that after Cardinal Schönborn saw a friend who had many short-lived relationships finally be in a stable relationship and seeing his friend grow – he said that “It is an improvement. They share a life, they share their joys and sufferings, they help one another. It must be recognised that this person took an important step for his own good and the good of others…”
“We are not at risk of diluting the clarity [of Church teaching] while walking with people because we are called to walk in the faith,” he said.
In 2021, Cardinal Schönborn said that the Church should not refuse same-sex blessings.
Also in 2021, German priests dedicated a whole day to same-sex relationship blessings despite a Vatican ban.
Pope Francis (2013 – 2025)
Despite this, Pope Francis has voiced his support for same-sex civil unions – as he did even as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He also encourages people in religious life who have often been vilified for helping LGBTIQA+ people to keep up the good work. You can find out more about this at:
- How Pope Francis is changing the Vatican’s tone on LGBT people
- Pope Francis encourages nun helping trans community in Argentina
- At Easter, Pope Francis invited transgender group to Vatican to receive coronavirus vaccine
- Pope Francis thanks New Ways Ministry in recent correspondence
- Pope Francis praises Sister Jeannine Gramick’s 50 years of L.G.B.T. ministry in handwritten letter
- Interview: Sister Jeannine Gramick on being censured by the Vatican, 50 years of ministry and her hopes for LGBT Catholics
Later in Pope Francis’ pontificate, he also allowed same-sex blessings (not to be confused with a marriage/wedding ritual), and transgender people to be baptised and to be godparents.
Pope Leo XIV (2025–present)
Pope Leo XIV was elected on 8 May 2025. His approach to LGBTIQA+ issues as Pope is still developing, but early signs indicate continuity with Pope Francis’s pastoral direction. On 1 September 2025 – five days before the Jubilee pilgrimage – Leo met privately with Fr James Martin SJ, founder of the LGBTIQA+ Catholic ministry Outreach, in the papal library of the Apostolic Palace. Fr Martin reported that he “heard the same message from Pope Leo that I heard from Pope Francis, which is the desire to welcome all people, including LGBTQ people.” The meeting was announced in the Vatican’s official daily bulletin, which observers noted was itself a public signal of support.
In September 2025, for the first time in history, an LGBTIQA+ pilgrimage was included in the Vatican’s official Jubilee calendar. More than 1,000 LGBTIQA+ Catholics, their families, and those who minister to them processed through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope. The pilgrimage was organised by Italian LGBTIQA+ Catholic group La Tenda di Gionata (Jonathan’s Tent), with participation from international organisations including New Ways Ministry and Outreach. The Vatican clarified that the listing was logistical rather than an endorsement. The event was welcomed by many Catholics as a historic milestone, while others within the Church expressed objection – reflecting the range of views that continues to exist at every level of Church life.
How Pope Leo’s pontificate will continue to develop on these questions remains to be seen.
The Australian Context
In Australia, bishops have supported LGBT pastoral care in various ways.
- Paramatta Diocese supports LGBTIQA+ Catholics through a working group and in Catholic Schools Paramatta where pastoral care for LGBT students has a high priority.
- Well-regarded and openly gay theologian, James Alison, was invited by Catholic Religious Australia and Catalyst for Renewal in 2023 to talk about pastoral care for LGBT people. He was the keynote speaker at 30+ events during his short visit all across Australia.
There are many other positive expressions of good pastoral support in the Catholic Church worldwide.
Acceptance Perth follows this model of positive non-judgemental journeying with LGBTIQA+ Catholics and allies. If you would like to join us or find out more, please contact us.
As of 2022–2023, the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS) – which all Roman Catholic dioceses and their entities in Australia are required to adhere to – explicitly include people of diverse sexualities. Standard 4.3 requires that attitudes and behaviours within the Church respect the inherent dignity of all individuals, be inclusive, and respond to diverse needs. The NCSS defines “people of diverse sexualities” broadly, encompassing all variations of sex characteristics, sexual orientations, and gender identities without requiring each to be specified individually (NCSS Audit Report, Page 42).
In practice, this means that even where priests, religious, employees, or volunteers personally hold views that are not affirming of LGBTIQA+ people, they cannot discriminate against individuals whilst carrying out their duties. Outside of specific sacramental exclusions – such as not officiating same-sex weddings – they cannot deny volunteer roles, leadership positions, or Holy Communion to a person solely on the basis of their being LGBTIQA+. As noted elsewhere in this FAQ, blessings for same-sex couples are now permitted under Fiducia Supplicans.
Discrimination may nonetheless occur, and some Catholic employees or volunteers may fail to intervene when they witness it. If you experience or witness discrimination, it can be reported to your local Safeguarding Officer or diocesan Safeguarding Office. Every parish and official Catholic community group has a designated Safeguarding Officer. For more information, visit safeguarding.perthcatholic.org.au.
Acceptance Perth operates independently of the Archdiocese. While safeguarding complaints are handled directly by diocesan offices, we are always happy to help you find the right contact or support.
