La Tenda di Gionata > English news

La Tenda di Gionata is an Italian Christian volunteer association, founded by volunteers of the Gionata Project who agreed to a proposal of the catholic priest David Esposito. Following his intention, we commit ourselves to the welcoming, training and knowledge of LGBT Christians, their families and pastoral workers, in dialogue with the various Christian communities.

Welcoming: we arrange pastoral events (spiritual retreats, community meetings, pilgrimages, etc.), open to all who are interested, to help LGBT people and their families feel welcome in their Church, but also to foster in our Christian communities listening and to get to know each other.

Training: We promote theological and pastoral learning, debate and updates on faith and homosexuality, giving voice to theologians and pastoral agents who study these issues, listening together to the experiences of people throughout their journey.

Knowledge: We publish documents in Italian that promote thought on these issues. We plan to print a publication every year (on paper or ebook) and to distribute it for free to Christian groups with whom we are in contact (the first one can be downloaded). We also want to collect and make known theological and pastoral experiences and documents on the inclusion of LGBT Christians and their families in local Churches around the world.

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For those who are still nailed by prejudice to a cross

Meditation by Luigi Santopaolo, biblical scholar, on the eleventh station of the Way of the Cross published in the pastoral-liturgical aid "Christ, my hope, is risen" for Lent * and…

Cast your vote for the preferred verse for the 2021 IDAHOT vigils

Since 2007, prayer vigils for the overcoming of homophobia, transphobia and all types of discrimination have become an annual event. In many Italian cities and throughout the world, many Christians…

LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Welcome Pope Francis Latest Affirmation

LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council, media release, 21 october 2020 The LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council welcomes Pope Francis' latest comments on same-sex unions and the right to family life as…

Good people, but blind to the plight of others

Thomas Lofaro, Chairperson, LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council* Dear friends, I've been looking forward to the "coming out of lock down" and to some return to normality.  Unfortunately, this doesn't…

Catholic parents with LGBTQ children meet Pope Francis

Article by Giampaolo Petrucci published on the Christian news portal Adista.it, 16 September 2020 "Since 2015, groups of religious parents with LGBTQ sons and daughters have been emerging across Italy…

The pilgrimage of the transsexuals (femminielli) to the Black Madonna of Montevergine (Italy)

Article by Laura Filios, published in the Jesuit Catholic monthly JESUS (Italy), ​​n.6 of June 2020, pp.52-55, translated by Andrea D. (La Tenda di Gionata) Every year thousands of devotees…

The Global Network of Rainbow Catholics: “There are still multiple forms of Church influenced discrimination in the 21st Century”

The Global Network of Rainbow Catholics, Press Release N°14, June 16, 2020 The Global Network of Rainbow Catholics (GNRC), representing Catholic LGBTIQ+ organisations from more than thirty nations around the…

“Fortunate Parents”. There is something prophetic in the pages of this booklet

Father Gian Luca Carrega*, "Genitori Fortunati" (Fortunate Parents. Experiencing the homosexuality of children, as Christian Parents), Tenda di Gionata (Italy), 2019, p.1-2, translated by Francesco Gagliardi There is something prophetic…

“Jonathan’s Tent”. Publishes Resources on Experiences of Italian Parents with LGBTQ Children

by Melissa Feito, newwaysministry.org (USA), May 9, 2020 . An Italian organization for families with LGBTQ members has released a free publication for parents with LGBTQ children. Titled Fortunate Parents:…

Fortunate Parents: the testimonies of Christian parents struggling with the discovery of homosexual children

Fortunate Parents: the testimonies of Christian parents struggling with the discovery of homosexual children, the book includes the stories of various Catholic families coming to terms with, and eventually accepting…