This Pride Month, the Sacred Heart of Jesus bleeds for queer Catholics

The podcast "Godsplaining," a ministry of the Eastern Province Dominicans, recently published an episode titled "How to Talk About Pride Month Without Losing Your Mind." The title piqued my interest as a Catholic who is queer, so I gave it a watch. I’d rather not go line by line with what I thought was erroneous about the conversation, however, there were a couple of things that stood out to me as deserving of response.

First, the two priests barely talked about individual relationships with gay people. Much of the conversation surrounding gay people was theoretical or abstract and showed a lack of understanding of what LGBTQ+ Catholics – or even non-religious LGBTQ+ people – actually go through. Their understanding of Pride was almost exclusively as a political or ideological movement; the conversation didn’t acknowledge how Pride has led to awareness of the plight of gay people and a celebration of our existence. 

Simply put: If people actually want to talk about gay people or issues that affect gay people, they should probably actually talk with gay people. And not in a way that tries to "save" us, but rather seeks to really listen to us.

Second, there was a subtle assumption that LGBTQ+ people do not make up part of the Catholic Church. Surprise! We do. There are gay priests, gay women religious, gay Catholic ministries and gay laypeople who are trying to live out their faith, who see the tension between their sexuality and their faith as a source of goodness and creativity, and not simply as a struggle or cross to bear. Gay people have and always will be a part of the church, from the Vatican all the way to the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. 

Third, the episode was far removed from how the Catholic Church actually relates to this issue. Brazil, the world’s largest Catholic country, has an LGBTQ+ ministry in their episcopal conference, run by a bishop. Just last month, a study group from the Synod on Synodality released two documents borne from listening to gay and bisexual Catholics, who criticized the one organization that the "Godsplaining" hosts mentioned: Courage International. During the 2025 Jubilee Year, there was even an official LGBTQ+ pilgrimage in Rome that was listed in the official Vatican calendar, complete with a Mass presided by Bishop Francesco Savino, the vice president of the Italian Bishops Conference. 

The only thing I would agree with on the "Godsplaining" episode is that Pride Month can be a time to grow spiritually, especially by focusing on the devotion of the Sacred Heart. In June, I am reminded that the Sacred Heart of Jesus bleeds for the queer. His passionate and sacrificial love overflows to reach those harmed and ostracized by leaders in the church who refuse to look after those on the peripheries. His precious blood is a comfort for us and as he carves himself into the hearts of those who suffer, he will never let them go.