LGBT Catholic Group ‘Discriminated Against’ By People Organising Pope Visit

A group that campaigns for the equal inclusion of LGBT people in the Catholic Church says it's being discriminated against by the World Meeting of Families (WMoF).

We are Church Ireland (WAC) said they "responded positively" to WMoF invitation that all were welcome to participate as one family in welcoming Pope Francis to Ireland by applying for a stand back in February.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has said that LGBT issues would be discussed in a pastoral congress during the Pope's two-day visit next month.

However, despite applying for a stand and paying the required deposit five months ago, We are Church Ireland have yet to receive a written response about their application.

In a statement, the group says they rang WMoF "almost fortnightly" inquiring about the status of their application.

The reply has always been, 'yes, we received your application but it is on hold'.

Brendan Butler, We are Church spokesperson said, "As no information was forthcoming, on the 25th May we sent a registered letter to Fr. Tim Bartlett, Secretary General of the WMoF and copied it to Dr Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and President of WMoF, asking for the courtesy of a decision on our application. Both these letters were also ignored."

"To add insult to injury on the 5th June we received a circular email from the WMoF advertising the fact that stands were still available and inviting applications!"

We are Church Ireland cancelled their deposit earlier this month when they continued to receive no reply.

The group says the WMoF lacked "the most basic courtesy" and "continues with its stealth tactics used already against gay people." (referring to the erasing of LGBTQI couples pictures from its official brochure earlier this year and deleting one inclusive minute from the video of Bishop David O’Connell.)

Behan added their behaviour "shows a closed and exclusive mentality which contradicts Pope Francis's constant calls for dialogue in the Catholic Church."