How is it to be homosexuals and teachers of Catholic religion?

Email sent to us by Marco, religion teacher*

How is it to be homosexuals and teachers of Catholic religion? I ask myself often and I recognize that, over time, I have changed.

I have always felt brought for education and working as a religion teacher gave me the opportunity to commit myself concretely not only as a witness of the Gospel but also as a trainer of the pupils and pupils of one of the most interesting aspects of history and civilization: religious culture.

Nei primi anni della mia attività lavorativa temevo molto per me e il mio lavoro, ero infatti preoccupato di non essere ben accolto come gay e docente di religione dalle persone con cui venivo a contatto nel mio lavoro e soprattutto dalla diocesi. Temevo infatti di poter perdere l’idoneità diocesana all’insegnamento della religione. Ogni insegnante di religione si impegna a non diffondere, nel proprio insegnamento, elementi contrari alla dottrina cattolica e a non contrastare pubblicamente gli insegnamenti ufficiali del Magistero. Mi consigliavano perciò di essere discreto nel mio lavoro, di non aprire mai certi argomenti con i miei studenti e soprattutto a evitare di fare accenni alla mia vita privata nelle ore lavorative. Se avessi fatto il mio coming out sul posto di lavoro, la curia avrebbe visto con sospetto me stesso e la mia attività di insegnante. Sentivo il bisogno di confrontarmi con altri colleghi e colleghe, specialmente altri/e docenti di religione, che vivessero la mia stessa situazione, che avessero i miei dubbi e le mie domande.

In these years of work, also thanks to the groups of LGBT+ Christians I have known many people, including several priests, with whom I shared good moments of confrontation and mutual enrichment. I also met many colleagues and colleagues who live the same situation as they. I also came into contact with many heterosexual teachers who were maturing a more inclusive and open approach to dialogue on issues concerning the relationship between faith and homosexuality. I learned that I was full of fear: fear of not being accepted, fear of losing the job. The awareness of being a gift from God for others, of having qualities and skills to put at the service of the school convinced me that fear had no reason to be.

I would therefore like to send to those who read these words a message of hope of trust, not to feel alone and crushed by their fears. An invitation to live as resurrected! It is no longer thoughtable to be afraid for what you are! However, I understand that many colleagues and colleagues live as a fear of suffering negative consequences for their work, especially by the dioceses. I believe that our testimony of life can contribute to overcoming that prejudice that many, even the Curies, could have towards us. Courage: we are never alone! If we are united in the Lord we can be yeast for the kingdom that comes

I wish everyone a full and fearless life!

* “The truth will set you free"The Gospel reminds us, because what is not mentioned does not exist, creates hypocrisy and generates monsters. That's why on Gionata.org we decided to tell the theme of homosexuality through the eyes and experiences of the teachers of Catholic religion (IDR). We want to tell stories, reflections and experiences experienced by religion teachers and that today they still cannot be discussed, faced and shared openly in the Catholic Church, otherwise there is a risk of penalties and the same workplace. Then we decided to give them to them, because our Catholic Church begins to deal with a reality that continues not to want to see. Read their stories on the page "The hour of religion "And if you want to add your contribution, also anonymous, writing to us to gionatanews@gmail.com Accept our invitation? @Tentonata