Synod Updates


Pope Francis has called for a worldwide synod of bishops which begins on the most local of levels with input from parishes and small faith sharing groups. By virtue of our baptism, our LGBTQ families have a role to play as we share our vision of church.

At this point, parish meetings have taken place where people shared their experiences of Church. These parish meetings have been summarized in diocesan-level documents and are now at the regional level. In most cases, diocesan level reporting can be viewed on diocesan websites. New Jersey is part of Region III within the church administrative structures. You can read some relevant comments from individual diocesan reports below.

As the Synod has progressed locally, LGBTQ concerns and needs have been expressed a number of times around the five dioceses of New Jersey. Excerpted relevant comments are found below:

From the National USCCB recap

  • "In order to become a more welcoming Church there is a deep need for ongoing discernment of the whole Church on how best to accompany our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters."

  • While not directly related to LGBTQ+ issues, still important that "People noted that the Church seems to prioritize doctrine over people, rules, and regulations over lived reality. People want the Church to be a home for the wounded and broken, not an institution for the perfect. They want the Church to meet people where they are, wherever they are, and walk with them rather than judging them; to build real relationships through care and authenticity, not superiority.”

Region III (NJ and PA Summary)

  • Some LGBTQ+ Catholics said that they feel as if the Church judges them entirely on one aspect of their lives, and that this seems inconsistent with how the Church treats people in other irregular situations.

  • Listening and engagement are essential for the Church to be effective in its outreach and for people, especially those who feel excluded, to believe this outreach to be authentic.

Archdiocese of Newark

  • "Do a better job at welcoming all people: divorced and remarried, LGBTQ, persons with disabilities, immigrants, varied cultural groups and others in our communities."

Diocese of Trenton
" LGBTQ+ individuals feel alienated/experience rejection for who they are

The ability of the Church to journey with LGBTQ+ persons is, at best, limited. Our brothers and sisters find our teaching language of “intrinsically disordered” hurtful. LGBTQ+ persons worry about being fired from Church jobs or volunteer roles. Their families and others who care for them cannot reconcile continued participation in Church when their loved one feels rejected. This single issue contributes greatly to disaffiliation among youth.

“Heterosexual members of the Church (who may be behaving sinfully) are not ‘rejected’ in the same way as homosexual members of the church. Are heterosexuals who have sex outside of marriage told that they are not able to be fully participating? This is perceived as being part of the hypocritical pastoral theology that causes many to leave the Catholic Community – or at least feel the need to live in a ‘don’t ask– don’t tell’ membership.”

  • “Assuming that all homosexual experience is sinful is not looking at the whole person, but as only one aspect of their humanity.”

  • “If the priest couldn’t accept my gay son, then I couldn’t accept the Church.”

  • “How could anyone not be welcome in God’s house?”

  • “My gay son is born in the image and likeness of God, but he doesn’t feel welcome in Church.”

  • “It’s my Church too.”

  • “I’m accepted as a transgender Catholic at local level but not in larger Church.”

Diocese of Camden
"The LGBTQ community was discussed widely and there is desire for inclusivity and accompaniment – yet there is a general consensus from the laity of being ill-equipped to do so." p9

Diocese of Paterson
They suggested that the Church in general, our Bishop, and our diocesan and parish leadership, clergy and lay, do the following: first, lead with love, and begin by listening with compassion; second, evangelize and catechize the generations that need it, in imaginative and pro-active ways; third, be pastoral and prayerful, rather than formal, legalistic, regulatory and bureaucratic; and fourth, continue listening in the synodal way.

Diocese of Metuchen
"Numerous participants pointed to “outdated” and “offensive” language used by the Church to refer to those who identify as LGBTQ, such as “same-sex attraction” and “disordered.” They describe this as hurtful and exclusionary and the use of these terms hinders people from speaking up candidly. While some respondents indicated that they thought that the Church is out of step with the world with regards to gender issues, more expressed a desire to make sure that those identifying as LGBTQ feel included in the Church and be better treated by the Church and its members."


An August, 2022 recap of the synod in local media

September 2022 from Outreach and assessment of diocesan listening sessions.