LA Catholic ed conference speakers: Let two boys go to prom together | News

March 26, 2018 (Joseph Sciambra) – On March 18, 2018, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, during its annual Religious Education Congress, offered the following workshop: "Teaching Mercy: Accompanying LGBT Students." The workshop focused on helping "educators discern a merciful balance between teaching doctrine and offering pastoral care as they accompany LGBT students through journeys of self-discovery and self-acceptance." The presenters were Fr. Chris Ponnet (pictured above), Arthur Fitzmaurice, and Ish Ruiz. Ponnet was ordained in 1983 and serves as "spiritual director" for the Archdiocese's Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons (CMLGP). Following the 2016 Congress, after a same-sex couple and their son presented the gifts to Archbishop Gomez at the "Margins" Mass, the CMLGP released the following statement: Progress for LGBT Catholics is slow and happens in incremental pieces, and often includes setbacks. I saw much progress this past weekend at the Religious Education Congress …