Cardinal Blase Cupich Presides Over LGBTQ+ Mass In Lakeview: 'God Brought Us Together Here As A Community'

LAKEVIEW — Blocks away from the thumping bass, fishnet bodysuits and drag queens of Boystown’s Pride Fest, some gay Chicagoans celebrated queer identity in a different way Sunday: with an LGBTQ+ Catholic mass led by Cardinal Blase Cupich.
As the bells rang at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and the first notes of the organ swelled, gay and lesbian churchgoers held hands, wore rainbow colors and sang hymns so loudly that they drowned out about 20 anti-LGBTQ+ protesters chanting outside the church doors at 708 W. Belmont Ave.
The Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach ministry has hosted weekly LGBTQ+ masses for decades. Cupich, one of the most important Catholic leaders in the U.S., presided over the group’s Sunday Mass, its 35th anniversary.
“God has brought us together here as a community. That’s why this community is so important. It’s a reflection of God and of the desire of God to have his people come together and support each other,” Cupich said.
“There’s something freeing about …