Press Releases

  1. Statement from LGCM on the Pope’s Visit

    27 August 2010

    Pope BenedictLGCM is an ecumenical organisation and consequently has a large number of members who are Catholic and whose beliefs and traditions we honour and respect.

    Although we appreciate that many people, both Catholic and Protestant, have issues regarding the forthcoming visit by the Pope, we also recognise that many LGBT Catholics are loyal to the Pope as their leader and having him in the UK is an occasion for celebration.

    The Pope holds a unique position in being both the head of the Catholic Church and also a head of State.

    In the past few years there have been a number of communications from the Pope and the Vatican that LGCM has felt the need to challenge. We make no secret of the fact that we do not agree with the Catholic Church’s teaching on sexual orientation and consequently LGCM has spoken out regarding these issues. The Vatican has also been vociferous in its opposition to LGBT rights and equality legislation in the UK, all of which is particularly offensive to LGCM including our Catholic members.
    Cardinal Newman
    Cardinal Newman, whose beatification by the Pope should be the highlight of the visit, offered to drink a toast to the Pope – but to conscience first, and the Pope second. We agree completely. Therefore whilst we wish for the Pope to recognise the effect of his statements on the lives of real people and will continue to challenge anything that is in opposition to our Statement of Conviction, we hope and pray that our members will be blessed by his visit.


  2. LGCM commends Charity Commission as Catholic Adoption Agency loses appeal to discriminate against lesbian and gay couples

    23 August 2010

    Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of LGCM, said today she was delighted that the Charity Commission had sided with common sense, and in support of human rights, in ruling against Catholic Care in its appeal to discriminate against gay and lesbian couples who wish to provide loving and caring homes to hard to place children.

    On Thursday 19 August the Charity Commission announced its decision to not give consent to the charity Catholic Care to amend its charitable objects to restrict its adoption services to heterosexual prospective parents only. The independent regulator of charities in England and Wales has considered the evidence and the relevant law and concluded that it would not be justified in the circumstances for the charity to discriminate in this way.

    Rev Ferguson said: “For too long public opinion has been influenced by the notion that lesbians and gay men cannot be good parents and that they would influence the child’s sexual orientation. This unfounded belief is homophobia, pure and simple, and therefore LGCM congratulates the Charities Commission in its ruling today.

    “It is sad and regrettable that Christian adoption agencies have to be forced to enter the twenty-first century. Agencies like Catholic Care should be more concerned to place children in loving, stable, and committed homes, than with hanging on to homophobic ideas.”


  3. LGCM express dismay at the decision of the Crown Nominations Commission to block the appointment of Dr Jeffrey John, as Bishop of Southwark

    12 July 2010

    Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) has voiced her frustration and disappointment that for the second time Dr Jeffrey John has had his sexuality made the stumbling block to his being appointed a Bishop in the Church of England.

    After it was leaked that Dr John was one of the candidates for the post of Bishop of Southwark, conservative opponents wasted no time in denouncing him, claiming that his appointment would cause schism, and threatening to seek leadership from overseas for dissenting churches within Southwark.

    This is agonising news to all those who support this gifted and enlightened cleric. His appointment to Southwark would have brought with it compassion, enormous expertise and wisdom. The diocese is the worse off because of this sad decision to remove Jeffrey John from the shortlist.

    LGCM is saddened by the way the Crown Nominations Commission has appeared to cower and backtrack in the face of those homophobic elements within the Church of England opposed to progress towards inclusion and equality which are at the heart of the Gospel.

    LGCM sees it as deplorable that the God-ordained ministry of Dr John is again questioned and vilified by elements within the Church who fail to demonstrate justice, wisdom or compassion in their attitude.

    Rev Sharon Ferguson said: “Once more the Church of England will be seen to be an anachronism by people who do not understand why Christians appear to be at the vanguard of hatred and homophobia. The Church had an opportunity to consider Jeffrey John on his merits and, whether he had been selected or not, send out a message that the Church of England is a place of welcome and affirmation in the love of God.”