Building a bridge : how the Catholic Church and the LGBT community can enter into a relationship of respect, compassion, and sensitivity / James Martin, SJ.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"A treasure...a wise and entertaining book that should appeal to the spiritual pilgrim in all of us, no matter what the faith and no matter whether believer or nonbeliever."

- Chicago Tribune

The New York Times bestselling author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Jesus: A Pilgrimage turns his attention to the relationship between LGBT Catholics and the Church in this loving, inclusive, and revolutionary book.

A powerful call for tolerance, acceptance, and support--and a reminder of Jesus' message for us to love one another. In this moving and inspiring book, Martin offers a powerful, loving, and much-needed voice in a time marked by anger, prejudice, and divisiveness.

On the day after the Orlando nightclub shooting, James Martin S.J. posted a video on Facebook in which he called for solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters. "The largest mass shooting in US history took place at a gay club and the LGBT community has been profoundly affected," he began. He then implored his fellow Catholics--and people everywhere--to "stand not only with the people of Orlando but also with their LGBT brothers and sisters." Father Martin's post went viral and was viewed more than 1.6 million times.

Adapted from an address he gave to New Ways Ministry, a group that ministers to and advocates for LGBT Catholics, Building a Bridge provides a roadmap for repairing and strengthening the bonds that unite all of us as God's children. Martin uses the image of a two-way bridge to enable LGBT Catholics and the Church to come together in a call to end the "us" versus "them" mentality. Turning to the Catechism, he draws on the three criteria at the heart of the Christian ministry--"respect, compassion, and sensitivity"--as a model for how the Catholic Church should relate to the LGBT community.

WINNER OF THE LIVING NOW BOOK AWARD IN SOCIAL ACTIVISM/CHARITY.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Why I'm Writing (p. 1)
• A Two-Way Bridge (p. 15)
• Biblical Passages for Reflection and Meditation (p. 77)
• A Prayer for When I Feel Rejected (p. 141)
• Acknowledgments (p. 149)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Jesuit priest Martin responds to the 2016 massacre in the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., with this brief, clear guide on how Catholics can heal some of the rifts surrounding issues of sexuality. He explains how both Catholic leadership and LGBTQ laity can apply principles of respect, compassion, and sensitivity to the thorny issue. Central to his argument is a gentle reminder to see opponents as fallible humans with good intentions. Rather than argue for a specific theology of sexuality, Martin urges a greater openness from those on both sides to listening, showing care, and genuinely seeking to understand each other. After these suggestions, he turns to brief biblical passages to explore how the ministry of Jesus, the Psalms, and other verses might offer insight into current debates. Each passage is paired with questions for reflection aimed at both LGBTQ believers and those seeking to understand their situation. The surprising places he finds insight highlight the subtlety of his thought and the time he has devoted to considering these questions. Although specifically Catholic, this approachable resource will resonate with many Christians looking for help with providing pastoral care to sexual minorities or living as an LGBTQ Christian. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

Editor at large of America and frequent guest on The Colbert Report, Martin was honored by the advocacy group, New Ways Ministry, for fostering good relations between the church and LGBT Catholics. The talk he gave upon receiving the group's Building Bridges Award is the main text here, A Two-Way Bridge. That connection must be used by those on both ends of it, Martin says, as they are guided by respect, compassion, and sensitivity precisely the qualities specified by the Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by John Paul II in 1992. Martin discusses how such intercommunication may be done, first by the church and then by LGBT Catholics. The overall idea is that clergy and LGBT laity must genuinely befriend and become known to one another, in the assurance that the Holy Spirit sustains the effort. Appended to the talk are biblical passages Martin refers to, along with questions to aid reflection and meditation on them. Like so much popular counsel seemingly narrowcast to Catholics, Martin's also speaks to plenty of Protestants engaged in church-LGBT dialogue.--Olson, Ray Copyright 2017 Booklist