Mission Statement
The Holy Family LGBTQ Outreach provides a dynamic, nurturing, confidential environment for the LGBTQ community, as well as their families, to be heard and to celebrate their love and acceptance in the Catholic Church.
Purpose
The purpose of this Ministry is three-fold:
1. To provide weekly group meetings for members of the LGBTQ community and their families to come together and discuss issues relating to their faith and gender identity in a safe Christian environment. To facilitate this goal films, guest speakers, review of scientific articles and religious updates are regularly provided.
2. To provide a venue for LGBTQ Catholics to discover their acceptance in the Catholic Church with the same equality given to all members of their faith community. Several Catholic priests from our local parishes provide their support, knowledge and expertise to our members on a regular basis.
3. To reach out to other Catholic parishes and offer them assistance in forming their own LGBTQ support groups. This is accomplished in two ways:
a) Provide our bulletin announcement for their parish bulletins as an introduction to the idea of an LGBTQ Outreach
b) Dr. Taylor, facilitator, and members of our group will attend, when invited, parish council meetings at other parishes to encourage them to begin formulating their own LGBTQ Outreach.
Meetings
Meetings are facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Taylor, a licensed psychologist and parishioner who specializes in faith issues within the Catholic LGBTQ community. She has presented on LGBTQ Catholic issues at several parishes in the greater Los Angeles area. Michael Ternes, is the co-facilatator of the group. He has organized LGBTQ groups throughout the Los Angeles area as well.
The meetings are free of cost and there is no on-going commitment to attend.
Contact
For further information please contact:
Elizabeth S. Taylor, Ph.D.
626.792.1103
