Are you Christian LGBT? Don't waste time and open your heart to those who want to listen to you!

Testimony sent to us by Ernesto on the listening service I trust you*

I vividly remember the chills that kept me chained to my bed that night last year. The terror had definitely taken over, that of not being able to reconcile the magisterium of the Catholic Church with the desire to no longer lie to myself.

It was one of those days when I was trying not to let myself be overwhelmed by the skeletons in the closet I had just opened in solitude. I knew that the one outside the wardrobe was nothing more than a simulacrum of Ernesto, the throbbing heart had always been locked, but I couldn't really more.

So I tried to stay afloat by throwing myself headlong on the web to carry out my research on the theme of homosexuality and Catholic religion. I came across a video in which Luigi (neoeletto at the Committee of the Youth Christian LGBT project) explained what he had managed to understand also thanks to his path of previous faith.

Ho deciso quindi di scrivergli un direct per condividere con lui il carico delle mie paure e nella sua risposta accogliente mi propose di usufruire dell’iniziativa “I trust you”, per contattare un religioso che potesse sciogliere ogni mio dubbio a riguardo.

Mi rispose Davide, un volontario del servizio di ascolto Mi Fido di Te, che con grande empatia, capacità di ascolto e pazienza mi ha trattato come un fratello minore ed ha saputo percepire da subito le mie paure espresse tra le righe.

Avevo chiesto di parlare con un religioso o una religiosa, proprio perché ciò che tormentava la mia coscienza era il sospetto di uscire fuori dalla “retta via” qualora decidessi di far parte di uno dei gruppi di cristiani LGBT che erano segnalati sul portale Gionata. Scrissi testualmente: “Non sono disposto a barattare il mio percorso nella Chiesa Cattolica per dare maggior spazio al mio orientamento sessuale”.

Davide mi ha quindi dato i contatti di Padre Giovanni di Milano, città in cui studio. Ci siamo messi d’accordo via sms per fissare una chiamata, vista la difficoltà d’incontraci di persona per l’epidemia di Covid-19 in corso.

Il mio primo contatto con religioso per aprire le porte del mio cuore e della mia coscienza è stato certamente un po’ imbarazzante, non avevo mai riferito a nessun altro tali angosce, inoltre l’impossibilità di vedersi in viso era un ostacolo non sottovalutabile.

Father Giovanni knew how to welcome me in turn and confirmed me that the idea of ​​joining one of the groups was absolutely "good and right thing". It was for me a relief to hear it tell me by those who had promised God to lead the sheep always towards eternal salvation. We promised us to meet us in person in the future.

But the San Tommaso who is in me could not be enough that call of twenty minutes! Thanks to the fact that I had recently returned to Calabra home, I asked Davide to put myself in contact even with a priest of my parts who could understand me the best, aware of the Calabrian situation of great welcome towards the next but also of great prejudices towards what is outside the choir.

So I got to call Don Fabio. It was the second missionary that was indicated to me as an interlocutor, for me a confirmation that the bridge that we dream of building between church and world LGBT is truly a border bridge.

Don Fabio was able to go straight to the core of my fears to indicate how my biggest need was first of all that of "feel loved"First of all from myself, because God has never stopped doing it, nor will he never do. For God I am very precious and worthy just as they are, sexual orientation included.

He always convinced me to join the nascent Calabrian group of Christians LGBT. Now I can't wait to compare myself with all the Calabrian boys and girls who are experiencing a path similar to mine. In the meantime, I enjoy the precious shares in the Telegram group of Young Christian young LGBT project!

However, I cannot omit that crucial in the self -acceptance path (still in progress) it was above all psychotherapy that helped me a lot to find the courage to free myself from the famous chains, I am convinced that the opportunity to undertake this path with my psychotherapist was a gift of the Holy Spirit for me!

I want to give those who are considering taking advantage of "one advice of"I trust you", Don't waste time and open the doors of your heart to those who can understand and help you!

Thank you very much to everyone for the opportunities offered to me with a love that overflows!

* I trust you It is the listening service for believing LGBT people and their parents who wish to carry out an interview with one of the religious/s, of Christians or LGBT couples, of the parents, curated by the volunteers of the Young Christian young LGBT project and of the Association La Tenda di Gionata. Write to the email mifidodite@gionata.org To organize an interview by phone or a video call. We are here for you.

Take part too> Every day prays online with the Christians LGBT and their parents the liturgy of the hours (praise and perform)