The Pope and New Ways Ministry

This past April, Frank DeBernardo and I wrote to Pope Francis. I am the Executive Director and the co-founder of New Ways Ministry (NWM). We told Pope Francis about the mission of NWM to work for justice and reconciliation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Catholics within the institutional Church.

We wrote about my investigation by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the disapproval by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, but also the support NWM receives from religious communities, some bishops and many theologians and parishes. We said that we hoped for some encouragement that would lift the shadow cast on us by the institutional Church.

Within two weeks, Pope Francis responded — a letter on papal stationary, even with the papal seal at the bottom! Pope Francis said that he was grateful to know our history because he sometimes receives partial information, which is not helpful. From our letter, he said that his “shepherd’s heart” has “good feelings.”

Because he also said, “I remain at your disposal,” we thought we would write again. We expanded on the mission of NWM, the difficulties we have had with the institutional Church and how we have coped. I told him that I have two decals on my computer: “This pope gives me hope,” and “I ❤️ Pope Francis.”

One week later, we received a hand-written letter from Pope Francis, thanking us for our work and saying that he knows our history was not an easy one. Imagine how consoled and elated I felt when I read his words about me: a valiant woman who has suffered courageously and makes decisions prayerfully.

Pope Francis preaches the Gospel in word and in deed. These letters reveal the heart of a true shepherd, who is close to people, understands their suffering and accompanies them on their life’s journey. He said that “God’s style” is “closeness, mercy and tenderness.”

This pope is realistic; his head isn’t in the sand! In one of his letters, Pope Francis recognizes that we all make mistakes. He sees this as a sign that we are “still walking.” Someone who doesn’t walk in life, he says, never makes decisions, so it may appear that the person never errs. But that person does nothing constructive. “And that is a big mistake!” he says.

This pope supports the works of justice and, therefore, the work of the Loretto Community as “we work for justice and act for peace because the Gospel urges us.”

The good news from the pope to New Ways Ministry gives all of us hope about the direction in which our Church is moving. Let’s pray for good health and a long life for Pope Francis!