Video> Inside Out! Who decides who is inside/out in the church?

The Webinar "inside/outside", organized by the la Tenda di Gionata as part of the CornerStone International Project, has explored the sense of belonging to the Church for believing LGBTQ+ people and for those who, within the Christian communities, feel the need for greater inclusiveness. The meeting brought together different voices to reflect on themes of faith, identity and change within the churches.

The speakers of the webinar - Paola Lazzarini, Elisa Belotti, Sandra Letizia, authors of the podcast "Cristianpi to whom? For a feminist and queer Christianity", and the pastora and theologian Daniela Di Carlo - have addressed the theme of belonging to the church from different perspectives, exploring the tensions between those who feel inside and are pushed outside or are on the threshold.

Paola Lazzarini, sociologist, introduced the theme by highlighting how belonging to the Church is not defined only by visible practices (such as participation in the sacraments) but also by the sense of personal and community identity. He underlined how the Church is a complex organization, capable of welcoming different sensitivity, and how nobody can arrogate the right to establish who is part of it and who does not.

The journalist Elisa Belotti He illustrated a series of research that show how women, young people and LGBTQ+ people leave the Church more frequently than other groups, often for a lack of recognition and welcome. However, he questioned the rigidity of the binomial "inside/outside", proposing a vision of the Church as a network of relationships rather than as an institution with rigid boundaries.

The theologian Sandra Letizia He addressed the theme from the theological point of view, remembering that baptism marks the entry into the Church as the people of God, not in the hierarchical institution. He highlighted how diversity has always been part of the Church and how its evolution depends on the ability to read the "signs of the times" and adapt to contemporary challenges.

Pastora Daniela Di Carlor finally he spoke of the need to maintain a critical look at religious institutions and to guarantee spaces for those who are on the threshold. He underlined the danger of a "tame" Christianity, which loses his prophetic strength and the ability to be next to the people on the margins of society.

The questions of the public have touched themes such as the role of women in the Church, the possibility of the female diaconate and the need to update the language of catechism on homosexuality.

The webinar ended with a message of hope: the church is on the way, and even those who feel on the margins have a fundamental role in its change. As emerged from the words of the speakers, remaining and carrying out their instances, even with frustration, is an act of faith and love for the Church itself.