Sexual identities. A proposal from the German Catholic Church for a truly inclusive pastoral care

Card by the volunteers of Jonathan's tent

The volume SICHTBAR aNERKANNT. Vielfalt sexueller Identitäten (Visibly recognized. The variety of sexual identities), published by the Catholic publishing house Herder (Germany) in the series Herder Thema in June 2025, he presents himself as a precious contribution to the debate in the Catholic Church on sexual identity, ecclesial inclusion and reception.

The title itself is provocative: "visibly recognized", something that is not (still) a reality, but an urgent request. As the curators Marianne Heimbach-Steins and Andreas Lob-Hüdepohl say in the preface:

"The variety of sexual identities is not a peaceful observation, but an open challenge that appeals the Church as much as the society."

Through a plurality of scientific and theological perspectives, the volume deepens key themes of contemporaneity: genetics and development of identity, education, psychology, bible, theological and pastoral anthropology. All in the horizon of the synodal journey of the German Catholic Church, which has decisively placed the theme of the reception of LGBTQ+people in the center.

Word to the bishops: "reality is more important than the idea"

Focal point of the volume is the exclusive interview with two German Catholic bishops: Heinrich Timmerevers, bishop of Dresden-Meißen and president of The episcopal commission for school and education; Ludger Schepers, auxiliary bishop of Essen e contact person of the German Episcopal Conference for Queer Pastoral (Beauftragter für Queer-Pastoral).

With sincerity and courage, both tell the personal stages that led them to rethink the doctrine and practice of the Church on these themes.

Bishop Timmerevers tells the meeting with trans people, homosexual and young couples who feel excluded: «Exclude can never be an option. The school must transmit to every young man who can be welcomed as he is. "

The Auxiliary Schepers bishop, recalling his visit to the Dachau concentration camp, says: «Nobody should be discriminated against for what it is. The Church must become a safe place, for all and everyone. "

The interview faces the need to without ambiguity renew language, school teaching, teachers' training and pastoral dialogue, with particular attention to the experiences of young people, families and queer people in the Catholic Church.

The second part of the volume proposes theological in -depth essays, with contributions on Bible, dogmatic, ethics, anthropology and religion, followed by testimonies and case studies, especially in the educational context. Among these, the voices of two protagonists of Out in Church - Mara Klein and Theo Schenkel - who tell the difficulties and desires of those who try to be visibly believer and visibly queer in the Catholic Church.

n number to reflect, study and act

The 64 pages of the volume were born as an outcome of three interdisciplinary consultations promoted by the Commission for the education of the German Episcopal Conference, and are configured as a true pastoral tool. They turn to theologians, educators, pastoral operators, parents, but also to all believers who wish to understand and accompany without judging, in the line of the teaching of Pope Francis:

"Accompany, discern, integrate" (Amoris Laetitia)

The variety of contributions, the balance between theory and practice, and the constructive tone make it a fundamental text for those who want to build a more just, more human and more evangelical church.

SICHTBAR aNERKANNT. Vielfalt sexueller Identitäten

INDEX

Editorial -M. Heimbach-Steins / A. Lob-Hüdepohl

Section: Fundamentals (Grundlagen)

• Who or what does the genre determine? (Was oder wer bestimmt eigentlich das Geschlecht?) - Wolfram Henn
• Sexual orientations in the course of life (Geschlechter und sexuelle Orientierungen im Lebensverlauf) - Meike Watzlawik
• Acceptance through visibility (Akzeptanz dirch Sichtbarkeit) - Ulrich Klocke
• Diversity and educational responsibility (Geschlechtliche Vielfalt: verantwortUNg Und handlungsspielräume Professional) - Elena M. Lemut, Nina S. Högler, Marion Thuswald
• Sexuality, identity, biography (Sexualität, Identität und Biographies) - Jochen Sautermeister

Interview (interview)

• "Reality is more important than the idea" („Die Wirklichkeit ist wichiger als die Ideas") - Heinrich Timmerevers and Ludger Schepers

Section: Theological (Theologie)

• Life, love, diversity. A biblical approach (Leben - Liebe - Vielfrat. Biblische Zugänge) - Thomas Hieke
• Created and loved in diversity (Vielfältig geschaffen und geliebt) - Gunda Werner
• A criticism of ecclesial doctrine on trans and intersex people (Unbdingte Achtung der Personwürd?)-M. Heimbach-Steins
• Anthropology in ethical-theological perspective (Sichtbar anerkannt)-A. Lob-Hüdepohl
• Sexual identity in religious education (Wahrnehmung vielfältiger sexueller Identitäten) - Judith Könemann

Second interview (interview)

• "I would almost feel more comfortable in a Catholic school" („From würde iCH mICH fAST wOHLER fühlen an einer katholischen Schule") - Mara Klein and Theo Schenkel

Section: Experiences and testimonies (Konkrectionen)

• Diversity in catholic schools (Vielfalt im Umgang mit Vielfrat) - Silke Gülker
• Inclusive religious teaching for incersex people (Zur Anerkenung intergeschlechtlicher Menschen)-Katharina Mairinger-Immisch
• Testimony of a homosexual teacher (Das Ende der Tabus) - Peter Hombach

Art and imaginary (Bilder)

• A reality made of colors and shapes (Eine Welt voller Farben und Formenten) - Tobias Eder, edited by Mareike Hartmann