Why do the LGBT children make us "lucky parents"? A question that becomes a statement

Article by Raffaele Crispo and Elvis Ronzoni

On Monday 6 February 2023 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center of Parma the presentation of the book "was held in front of a large audience"Lucky parents, to live as believers the coming out of the children"(EffaTata publishing, 2022).

The meeting was organized by Davide Group Mostly made up of believing parents of homosexual people who have gathered in Parma for years and who in the past had personally handed over the "original" version of the book in the hands of Pope Francis.

The meeting, which was moderated by the deacon Pietro Cocconcelli, saw the intervention of some of the authors of the book such as the pedagogist Alessandra Bialetti, the parent Corrado Contini and the teacher of Sacra Scripture Don Gian Luca Carrega. At the end there was the intervention of the bishop of Parma Monsignor Enrico Solmi who drew his personal considerations.

Nel corso dell’incontro si è parlato della necessità di una Chiesa sempre più accogliente e dalle porte aperte e di una pastorale che abbia riguardo ed attenzione per le persone LGBT. La prima ad intervenire è stata la Bialetti, autrice del fortunato libretto sul coming out “Ospite inatteso” la quale ha parlato della delicatezza del coming out e della differenza tra l’accettazione e l’accoglienza.

A suo avviso il coming out anche se è un momento di lutto che va elaborato non è da considerarsi come una disgrazia bensì un dono ed una risorsa per tutta la famiglia. In vari modi, la pedagogista ha dimostrato quanti e quali sono i vantaggi del coming out che aiuta ad uscire dalla clandestinità, a costruire relazioni più autentiche e a migliorare notevolmente la vita di chi lo fa. Certamente è un passo irreversibile senza ritorno e che comporta un immenso lavoro da parte di tutta la famiglia.

Molto belle e come sempre interessanti le accorate parole del papà Corrado Contini il quale ha parlato di come è nata l’idea del libro così come la presentazione dello stesso. Nella sua vibrante testimonianza Contini ha detto che: “il silenzio è una violenza e che va superato lo stigma sia sociale ma talvolta anche quello famigliare”. His words were touching on the need to listen because only listening changes the heart and gaze. Contini had words for everyone also for those priests who are not so inclined to welcome and firmly reiterated that all homosexuals are "a project of love of God" ... and that there is nothing to repair in them.

Don Gian Luca Carrega reported the whole audience ten years back when many steps had to be taken and guided those present towards careful reading of the Holy Scriptures. He explicitly said that the Bible contains rules that must be contextualized with the historical period in which it has been written and that photographs the culture of time which is certainly very different from ours.

The biblicalist recalled that the Bible is not always very consistent in the rules called and in the indications he gives and that some of his songs are unjust to our eyes ... On the other hand, the Bible is the word of God but has been written by human beings. Don Gian Luca also mentioned the theme of blessings and many things, such as slavery and death penalty that were accepted in sacred texts while now they are inconceivable.

After a series of questions that came from those present there were the conclusions of Monsignor Solmi, who recalled the steps forward that were made and the times in which he took part in meetings of the genre or wakefulness of prayer by opening the doors of the churches of the diocese of Parma for the occasion. Over the past ten years the history and vicissitudes of the believing LGBIT people have known favorable accelerations and therefore it is necessary to continue debating on these issues.

According to the shepherd who guides the local diocese, it is necessary to listen to all those who believe they can say something about the subject and who no longer have to fall into the error of relativizing everything. His excellence recalling that the publication of this book is among the initiatives of La Tenda di Gionata He was pleased to find that the "tent" widens more and more and welcomes in addition to the LGBTIQ+ people also the poor and those who have no power.

The book, which was treated by Gianni Geraci and Innocenzo Pontillo It is enriched with many beautiful testimonies from which an superhuman force comes out, almost supernatural, and a courage that parents discover only thanks to maternal and paternal love. The intention of these lucky parents is to help their children and at the same time to achieve the welcoming and authentic will of Christ.

The reading of this book is strongly recommended not only to parents of homosexual people but also to all their family members and parishes, because many lessons and teachings can be grasped from it. For those wishing to copy the book or liked more information can write to the address: tendedigionata@gmail.com Or you can buy the book in all bookstores.