A Catholic Response to Pride Month

+JMJ+ Every June, we are surrounded by messages of affirmation and celebration tied to LGBTQ+ identities. For Catholics, this month can bring tension, not because we reject people, but because we are committed to truth.

Truth is not negotiable even when it’s not considered fashionable. The Church has never changed its teaching on this not even under Pope Francis, whose words have often been misunderstood or misrepresented. His well-known phrase, “Who am I to judge?” has been weaponized by many who wish to distort the Church’s consistent teaching. In truth, Pope Francis, like Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II, all their predecessors, and our new pope, Pope Leo XIV, repeatedly reaffirmed the Church’s teaching: marriage is between a man and a woman. 

God doesn’t change His mind. He doesn’t evolve with the culture. His law is unchanging, clear, and life-giving. To presume otherwise is not only a misunderstanding of divine love, it is a grave sin against the first commandment, a refusal to let God be God.

In the gospel of John 15:18, Jesus speaks these stirring words: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” 

Those of us who strive to stand with Divine Revelation (Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition) are increasingly labeled as extreme, divisive, or unkind. In our efforts to lovingly proclaim the truth, even some religious leaders frown upon, ridicule, or seem uncomfortable from such clarity. Silence, compromise, and passive acceptance have become the “new normal.” We’re told not to “rock the boat,” not to address hard issues, especially with those we love.

The world urges us to let others define their own truth, their own identity, their own rules. “If it feels good, do it.” Yet, when we accept this lie or remain silent in the face of it, it becomes nearly impossible to recover from the deception.

Do we try to preserve false unity by silence and appeasement? Or are we willing to speak the truth with love (not pride) and unite at the foot of the Cross, where we accept that we may be misunderstood, rejected, or even hated? Do we not encourage and create confusion when we remain silent in the name of false peace and love?

As Catholics, we are not called to follow the world. Our faith isn’t based on personal feelings or shifting cultural trends. It is rooted in truth. Truth doesn’t change simply because it makes us uncomfortable. The Church does not exist to affirm our worldview or make us feel good. It exists to lead us to holiness, to help us reach Heaven, and to form saints. As my own parish (All Saints) reminds us: “We are all saints. Holiness is possible.”

This includes those who struggle with same-sex attraction. You are not excluded from the call to holiness. In fact, as Fr. Dan Reehil, an exorcist priest, once said: “You can become a saint quicker when things are falling apart.” The cross you carry may be heavy, but you do not carry it alone. Christ walks with you. And if you let Him in (if you allow God to be God) He will bring beauty, redemption, and healing from that very cross.

The Church is clear: every person is created by God, loved by God, and worthy of dignity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (CCC 2358). This teaching does not shift with politics or social pressure.

At the same time, the Church does not affirm every behavior or lifestyle. Sexual intimacy is a sacred gift, intended for marriage between one man and one woman, open to life. Homosexual acts (like all sexual activity outside of marriage) are contrary to God’s design. As the Catechism explains, “Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered” (CCC 2357), because they close the gift of life and do not reflect the complementarity of the sexes. This is not a message of rejection. It’s a call to holiness.

Scripture reinforces this truth. St. Paul writes in Romans 1:26–27 about behaviors that stray from God’s plan. He writes, not with cruelty, but with sorrow and urgency. The goal is never condemnation, but repentance and a return to what is good and true.

Love and truth are not opposites. They belong together. To truly love someone does not mean affirming everything they do. Jesus shows us how to love sinners without endorsing sin. He dined with the outcast, forgave the adulterous woman, and told her: “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). That is our model to follow. Instead of offering cold and heartless judgment, we are called to give compassionate truth even with our friends and loved ones. Indeed, when we choose to put our relationships above fidelity and truth, we fall into idolatry.

It’s also worth remembering that not all voices within the Church speak with clarity or fidelity to her teachings. Some Catholics are drawn to figures like Fr. James Martin (a controversial Jesuit priest) who has in the past publicly wished people “Happy Pride Month.” Yet, this sentiment as well as many of his statements directly contradict the Church’s understanding of both pride and human dignity.

This is a good time to remind one another that our clergy are not infallible. The fact that someone has a platform or popularity doesn’t make them right.

Sadly, many Catholics today are naive as a result of poor catechesis. Other Catholics have embraced cafeteria Catholicism—picking and choosing what aligns with their preferences—so they flock to what feels affirming rather than what is true. Feelings are fleeting but truth is eternal. We are called not to follow the crowd (or even a celebrity priest). We are called to follow Christ.

Let’s not forget: in Catholic tradition, June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He is the perfect image of true love. His Heart burns with mercy, sacrifice, and truth. It is not a sentimental love that flatters, compromises, or focuses on what feels good, but one that calls each of us to conversion, healing, and holiness.

So while the world celebrates pride, Catholics are called to a different kind of witness. Not one of loud protest or cruelty, but of firm conviction, quiet strength, and genuine love. We pray. We love. We stand for truth.

What Can Catholics Do?

• Pray for those who experience same-sex attraction or who are living in ways contrary to God’s plan. Ask the Sacred Heart of Jesus to draw them to truth and healing.

• Study Church teaching. Read the Catechism (especially sections 2357–2359) and Sacred Scripture so you can speak with clarity and confidence.

• Lead with love, not arguments. When loved ones disagree with you, respond with calm, compassion, and clarity. Truth without love wounds and sharpens the divide. Love spoken without truth misleads.

• Live by example. A life of joyful faith, chastity, holiness, and humility speaks louder than any debate.

• Set healthy boundaries. You are not obligated to affirm or participate in events or messages that conflict with your faith.

• Offer sacrifices. Unite your struggles, sorrow, or discomfort with Christ’s suffering. This is a spiritual battle. Your prayers and sacrifices matter.

• Entrust all to the Sacred Heart. No one is beyond God’s reach. Love deeply, pray often, and trust completely.

Let us remember that our identity is found only in Christ. That’s where everything begins and ends. We are His beloved sons and daughters. That is the core of who we are. Let us live our faith with integrity, not with fear or hatred, but with the peace that comes from knowing God’s law is written not only in Scripture, but in the human heart.

As we enter the month of June, let’s turn in a special way to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His love isn’t just any kind of love, and nothing can compare. It is the deepest, most profound, most perfect love. Thank you, Jesus, for your eternal love!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!