Progetto Gionata

Approved by the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy on 14th May 2011 with resolution 2011/7, translated from the Italian by Janet Lisa Dubbini

The CELI (the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy) adopts a position on the blessing of hetero and homosexual committed relationships.
Listening to the Word of God and observing the social changes, it performs its duty of accompanying Christians along their paths of life.

By Delia Vaccarello, L’Unità (Italy),  29th  August  2011,  page 39

Is it possible for lesbian and gay to feel at home in Church?  The dialogue gives the idea to be welcome; it can take place between a diocese and a group or inside a parish church.
There are parish churches that have created a pastoral ad hoc: Turin, Parma, Cremona with some experiences also in Crema and in Leghorn. Some parish churches set in Catania, Palermo, Bologna, Padova and Florence create initiatives.

By Delia Vaccarello, L'Unità (Italy), 18 July 2011, translated by Kathryn

Fortunate Families is an association that seeks respect for their gay sons and daughters. In Italy it has inspired the creation of the project Gionata (Italy), one of the most active Christian groups that is fighting for gay rights.
Fortunate Families define themselves as “Catholic families that demand respect for their gay and lesbian sons and daughters”.

The European Forum of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Christian Groups was created in Paris in 1982 and from then on it has been working to achieve the non-discrimination of christian lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transexuals in European churches.
This ecumenical web of people has increasingly grown during the years and is currently formed by 44 groups of LGBT christians from 23 European countries (data refers to 2011).

Interview by Silvia Lanzi, 10 July 2011

Drachma, a well established reality and an opportunity for the maltese gay believers to grow and search, as its rich and complete blog shows.
Here you can find materials, links and reflections on a wide range. In order to find out more about the group I asked Clayton few questions. Here is what he answered me.

By Andrea Ambrogetti, 18 June 2011

In 1977 Sister Gramick co-founded, with father Robert Nugent, New Ways Ministry, a Catholic social justice center working for the reconciliation of lesbian/gay people and the Church.
She advocates the acceptance of gay and lesbian people as full and equal members of religious, civil, and social groups. She believes that only if all people are treated with dignity and respect will there be peace and harmony in the world.

By Marco Politi, Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy), June 9, 2011, page 10, translated by Marta

"Holy Father, we are addressing you to ask you to condemn deeds of violence against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, and to call for His Holiness' cooperation in decriminalizing homosexual acts worldwide - so Christian gays wrote to the Pope.
To the groups of homosexual Christians that are attending Rome's EuroPride festival it is important that the Holy See supports Onu's call to the countries of the whole world to recognize that sexual orientation cannot be a basis for penal sentence, prison sentence and executions.

Report of Martin Pendergast* (UK), Conference ‘LGBT people and Christian churches in Europe: fears and opportunities for full acceptance and inclusion’, Euro-Pride Rome (Italy), 10 June 2011

In 1957, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster together with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury responded to the Wolfenden Report which proposed decriminalising homosexuality in England and Wales.
The Archbishops, in rare ecumenical convergence for the time, said that issues of personal morality and legality should not be confused and so offered their support for decriminalisation, which finally occurred in 1967.

By Delia Vaccarello, L'Unità (Italy), 6 June 2011, translated by Kathryn

"Holy Father, the silence of His Holiness is often interpreted as tacit approval by those who commit acts of violence, torture and assassination against LGBT individuals.
As with the passages of the Bible that condone slavery, the passages of the Bible that support the killing of people who engage in sexual activity with those of the same sex should  not be interpreted literally".

At this year’s Europride, which will take place from the 1st to the 12th of June, for the first time Italian and European Christian groups will be present.
In total, 40 LGBT Christian groups from Italy, Spain, Norway, France, the UK as well as other European countries will converge on the “eternal city” in order to share and bear witness to their experiences.