“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
The secular world likes to paint a certain picture of what the Catholic Church is. One particular false portrayal is that of an unwelcoming church.
You could use almost any marginalized group as an example, and you could find someone accusing the Church of not welcoming that particular group.
But again, this is a false portrayal. Christ came for all people, meaning that all people are welcome in His Church. But, you decide to be part of the Church. If you want to be, you can. Here’s the way to do it: being a member of the Catholic Church implies that you are willing to live the Catholic faith.
And while all are welcome, sin is not. We are sinners, but we’re called to despise our sin and detach from it — not clinging to it and demanding that God bends to our wills.
The pilgrim Church on earth is bound for Heaven. And, there’s no place in Heaven for sin. If you’re embarking on the journey to sainthood, certain things get left at the door, and sin is one of them.
If we’re living lives contrary to what the Church teaches, then maybe it’s time for us to change our lives...not the Church’s teaching.
A few comments: 1) I’d suggest not asking and answering your own questions; 2) try asking the “marginalized” whether they feel welcome; 3) try focusing on the faith of such people and not the sin; 4) the fullness of church teaching includes every Catholic’s right to an informed individual conscience; 5) try ministering to the entire spectrum of Catholics and just the trads and the cons; while church teaching is important so too is the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and his ministry to those at the margins; 6) this and many other Catholic diocese’s in this country are doing a great job of emptying out our church; and 7) read my recent piece on Pope Benedict. https://outreach.faith/2023/01/im-an-lgbtq-catholic-activist-who-invites-you-to-see-the-goodness-of-pope-benedict-xvi/
We need to welcome ALL people to our parishes so that they have the opportunity to hear the truth and conform their lives to the Gospel. Thanks for the part you play in proclaiming that truth!